Former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud makes case for Constitution in debut book

When Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud retired as the 50th Chief Justice of India in November 2024, many wondered what the next chapter in his public life might look like. With over 25 years on the bench, he delivered some of the most significant legal rulings in recent Indian history. Now, the former CJI has turned author. His debut book, Why the Constitution Matters (Penguin Random House), is slated to be released by August-end.  

The former CJI’s landmark judgments have addressed issues as diverse as the right to privacy, the decriminalisation of homosexuality, and gender equality in the armed forces. However, this book is not a legal treatise. Instead, in his words, it is an “an invocation to every citizen to engage in realising the true potential of the Constitution.” Written with the clarity of someone accustomed to explaining complex principles, it seeks to connect constitutional ideals with the lived experiences of everyday Indians.

The book offers readers a nuanced understanding of the values enshrined in the Constitution.

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Interpreting the constitution

In Why the Constitution Matters, the former CJI draws on his judicial experiences, offering a glimpse into how constitutional reasoning shapes real-world outcomes.

Publisher Milee Ashwarya, who heads the Adult Publishing Group at Penguin Random House India, says, “The Constitution is not just a document; it is the very essence of our democracy, a beacon of hope, and a guiding light that ensures justice, equality, and liberty for all.”

If the former CJI’s time on the bench was about interpreting the Constitution for the nation, his time as an author may be about helping the nation interpret the Constitution for itself.