'People Think Deals Being Made...': CJI Chandrachud Breaks Silence On PM Modi's Ganesh Pujan Visit Row

Last month after a video was shared showing PM Modi performing Arti at Ganesh Pujan organised at the Chief Justices residence, the Opposition had raised several questions on need for such a visit.

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud while speaking at a recent event at Mumbai, broke his silence on the controversy surrounding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit at Ganpati puja festivities at his residence last month. 

Speaking at the Loksatta lecture series in Mumbai, the CJI said that such meetings were part of a routine and there is enough maturity among judges of constitutional courts and the heads of the executive to firmly keep aside judicial matters out of the purview of any discussion. He further said that judges sometimes meet political leaders at social gatherings but that does not mean they discuss their judicial work.

He further added that no deals are cracked when the judiciary and executive meet. He said that the actual focus of such meets are to discuss infrastructure issues related to the judiciary, rather than judicial decisions. CJI Chandrachud further added that even in states, the Chief Justices of High Courts meeting Chief Ministers is a customary practice.

"People think there are deals being made, but that is not the case. This is part of the robust dialogue between different arms of the government. The work of all three arms is dedicated to the betterment of the nation," the CJI said.

The CJI further said that "We know our duties in the democratic system of governance, and the political executive know theirs." He assured that no judge, least of them the Chief Justice of India or Chief Justices, can even remotely invite any threat, actual or perceived, to the independence of the judiciary.

Last month after a video was shared showing PM Modi performing Arti at Ganesh Puja organised at the Chief Justices residence, the Opposition had raised several questions on the need for such a visit.

The CJI further said that the Prime Minister and Chief Ministers do visit the residences of the CJI, CJs of high courts and judges on social occasions like children’s marriage or festivities, but he could not recount a single occasion where either the CJI or judges of the SC ever discussed any judicial matter with the executive heads of the Union or states, the TOI reported.