Supreme Court Urges Govt to Evict Ex-CJI Chandrachud from Official Bungalow

In an unusual step, the Supreme Court administration has formally written to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, requesting the immediate repossession of Bungalow No. 5, Krishna Menon Marg in Lutyens’ Delhi—assigned to the sitting Chief Justice. The current occupant, former CJI Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, has overstayed the allowed period since his retirement in November 2024.

A letter dated July 1, reviewed by Hindustan Times, states: “I am to request you to take the possession of Bungalow No. 5… from Hon’ble Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud without any further delay as… permission… expired on 31st May, 2025… [and] the six months provided in Rule 3B… expired on 10th May, 2025.”

Extended Stay After Retirement

Justice Chandrachud, India’s 50th CJI until November 2024, is still residing in the Type VIII bungalow nearly eight months post-retirement. His successors—Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Bhushan R. Gavai—declined to occupy the residence, instead staying in other official lodgings.

When asked, the ex-CJI attributed his delay to personal reasons, including securing suitable accommodation for his family. He confirmed that he had been offered alternate housing, currently under renovation:

“I have already been allotted an accommodation… and I will shift the very next day that the house is ready.”

Permission Granted Amid Pollution Delay

In a December 18, 2024 letter to then CJI Khanna, Justice Chandrachud requested to remain at the Krishna Menon Marg bungalow until April 30, citing delays in shifting to Bungalow No. 14 on Tughlak Road due to pollution-related GRAP-IV restrictions.

“It would be more convenient if I am permitted to retain the existing accommodation… till 30 April 2025,” he wrote, also offering to forgo Tughlak Road housing.

India’s Housing Ministry granted permission from December 11, 2024 to April 30, 2025 at a license fee of ₹5,430 per month.

Oral Extension Closes May Grace

In June, Justice Chandrachud made an oral request to stay until May 31, 2025. The Supreme Court approved this extension with a strict warning: no more delays, as several judges awaited official housing.

However, the July 1 letter underlined that the extended stay violated Rule 3B, which permits retired CJIs only Type VII housing for six months, making his current occupation of Type VIII accommodation beyond May 10, 2025, unauthorized.

Court Seeks Immediate Possession

The Supreme Court pointed out that the special extension granted was conditional, and having overshot the May deadline, it requested MoHUA to repossess the bungalow promptly and confirm the action.

Such a formal demand is rare, marking the first high-level intervention by the court to retrieve its residence from a retired Chief Justice—an extreme departure from past practice where unofficial extensions were often allowed.

Family Needs Cited as Reason

Justice Chandrachud clarified the delay was partly due to his daughters’ medical needs. He stated: “I have two daughters with functional needs… which is why it has taken me some time to look for a house appropriate for their needs… both of whom require treatment for nemaline myopathy at AIIMS.”

He noted that his situation was known to the court administration.

Soon to Move: Acknowledging Obligations

The former CJI assured: “It is a matter of just a few days and I will shift… I am completely cognisant of my responsibilities.”

He further added that past Chief Justices received similar grace periods to accommodate family and logistical matters. He also mentioned a letter from April 28 requesting permission until June 30 to finalize a suitable home for his daughters.

With deadlines now passed, the Supreme Court’s demand to reclaim its premier residence highlights the balance between statutory rules and personal exigencies for retired top officials.