PM Modi Visits CJI Chandrachud Residence For Ganapati Puja; These Eminent Lawyers Cry Foul

A controversy has erupted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended Ganpati Puja at the residence of Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, with some eminent liberal lawyers raising concerns about judicial transparency.

In a video, CJI Chandrachud and his wife, Kalpana Das, were seen welcoming PM Modi at their house on Wednesday (11 September).

The Prime Minister was also seen participating in the puja at their residence.

Several eminent liberal lawyers Indira Jaising and Prashant Bhushan criticised the PM's visit to CJI's residence.

In response to these criticisms, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has clarified that the Prime Minister's visit was purely to join in the Ganpati celebrations.

BJP national organising secretary B L Santhosh, in a post on X, dismissed the critics' concerns as exaggerated.

“Civility, cordiality, togetherness, co-travellers in nations journey are all an anathema to these left liberals. Also it was not socialising but a devoted Ganapathi Pooja is very hard to digest. SCBA is not a moral compass. Take deep breath once,” Santhosh’s X post read.

Santhosh's post was in reply to senior advocate and former Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Indira Jaising, who had urged the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) to condemn the Prime Minister’s visit to the CJI’s residence.

“Chief Justice of India has compromised the separation of powers between the Executive and Judiciary,” Jaising’s X post read.

“Lost all confidence in the independence of the CJI. The SCBA must condemn this publicly displayed compromise of Independence of the CJI from the Executive,” she added.

Senior SC lawyer Prashant Bhushan also expressed shock in a post on X, and criticised CJI Chandrachud for allowing the Prime Minister’s visit.

“Shocking that CJI Chandrachud allowed Modi to visit him at his residence for a private meeting. Sends a very bad signal to the judiciary which is tasked with the responsibility of protecting fundamental right of citizens from the executive & ensuring that the govt acts within bounds of Constitution," Bhushan said.

“That is why there has to be an arms length separation between the executive & judiciary,” (sic), he added.

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