SC seeks Centre’s action to vacate official CJI residence still occupied by ex-CJI Chandrachud

In a rare administrative step, the Supreme Court has written to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) seeking the immediate vacation of Bungalow No. 5, Krishna Menon Marg — the official residence designated for the sitting Chief Justice of India (CJI) — currently occupied by former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud. The letter dated July 1 states that the former CJI has stayed beyond the permitted duration as per Rule 3B of the Supreme Court Judges (Amendment) Rules, 2022.

Justice Chandrachud retired in November 2024 and was allowed to retain the Type VIII bungalow initially till April 30, 2025, following his December 18, 2024 request citing renovation delays at his allotted Tughlak Road residence. MoHUA approved the extension on February 13, 2025, with a monthly licence fee of ₹5,430. He later sought an additional extension till May 31, 2025, which was granted orally with a clear condition that no further extension would be permitted.

Rule 3B permits a retired Chief Justice to retain only a Type VII accommodation for six months post-retirement. The rule-based period ended for Justice Chandrachud on May 10, 2025. The administration highlighted this lapse and emphasized that the bungalow should be returned to the Supreme Court’s housing pool immediately, as other judges awaiting allocation were staying in guest houses.

Justice Chandrachud has stated that he has already been allotted another government accommodation on rent, which is under renovation after being unused for nearly two years. He also said the delay was due to personal reasons involving his two daughters with special needs. “My daughters have severe comorbidities and genetic problems – particularly nemaline myopathy, for which they are being treated by specialists at AIIMS,” he said. “It is a matter of just a few days and I will shift,” he added.

In April 2025, Justice Chandrachud had written to then CJI Sanjiv Khanna requesting a further extension till June 30, citing ongoing efforts to find a residence suitable for his daughters’ requirements. The July 1 communication from the Supreme Court stated that all permissions had expired and directed the Centre to take possession of the bungalow without further delay.