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"The Prime Minister visited my home for a purely private event, it was not a public event. Well, I do feel that, you know, there was absolutely nothing wrong for the simple reason that these are continuing meetings between the Judiciary and the Executive, even at a social level," CJI said
Speaking at a discussion organized by Indian Express, the Chief Justice of India addressed the Prime Minister's visit to his house during Ganpati Puja saying, "The PM visited my residence for Ganpati puja. I do feel there is absolutely nothing wrong as these are continuing meetings between the judiciary and the executive even at the social level."
CJI Chandrachud has further clarified that these meetings involve discussions unrelated to judicial cases. Separation of powers does not imply that these branches should avoid interaction, he added.
He added that PM Modi's visit to his residence was a purely private event and not a public one.
Last month as well, the Chief Justice of India had addressed the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to his home for Ganesh Puja.
Terming the controversy to be “unnecessary, unwarranted, and illogical”, the CJI had said political executives, can pay a visit to houses of judges on social occasions, adding that the spirit of an independent judiciary is so much entrenched among judges that judicial matters are “never discussed”.
On September 11, PM Modi's attendance at Ganpati Puja at CJI Chandrachud's residence drew sharp criticism from opposition leaders and several advocates citing concerns over the judiciary's independence.
The event sparked strong reactions from opposition leaders and some Supreme Court lawyers. Senior advocate Indira Jaising criticized the Prime Minister’s presence, stating on X that the Chief Justice had blurred the lines between the executive and judiciary.
According to media reports, the Shiv Sena (UBT) voiced concerns, suggesting that such a gathering could raise public doubts about the judiciary’s impartiality. In response, the BJP defended the visit, stating that it was solely for the Ganpati Puja and emphasized that such events are "a part of our culture."
Recently, Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal had also addressed the meeting and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should not have shown any interest in attending the Ganesh Puja at Chief Justice Of India DY Chandrachud's home. Sibal, who is also the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president, also extended his request to the Prime Minister not to make a spectacle of such private events.
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