New Delhi: Chief Justice of India U U Lalit recommended to the Centre the name of the senior-most Supreme Court Judge Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud as his successor.
Justice Chandrachud, who has been part of several Constitution benches and landmark verdicts of the top court including on matters relating to the Ayodhya land dispute, right to privacy and adultery, will become the 50th CJI on November 9 once the recommendation is accepted by the Government.
Justice Chandrachud, who was elevated to the top court on May 13, 2016, will have a tenure of two years as the CJI and is due to retire on November 10, 2024. Supreme Court Judges retire at the age of 65.
Setting in motion the process of appointment of the next CJI, the incumbent Chief Justice handed over the copy of his letter of recommendation to Justice Chandrachud, who is the son of the longest serving CJI Y V Chandrachud. The former CJI was the head of the judiciary from February 22, 1978 to July 11, 1985.
On October 7, Law Minister Kiren Rijiju had sent a letter to CJI Lalit, who is set to retire on November 8, to recommend his successor. CJI Lalit will have a short tenure of 74 days.
CJI Lalit, who wrote back to Rijiju recommending the name of Justice Chandrachud, requested all the judges of the Apex Court to assemble at the Judges’ lounge at 10.15 am. He then handed over the letter designating the successor to Justice Chandrachud, who has also played a pivotal role in digitization of the judiciary,
