Judges not deities, dangerous to think of court as temple of justice: CJI D Y Chandrachud

‘I would rather recast the role of the judge as a server of the people’, says DY Chandrachud

2 min readKolkataUpdated: Jun 30, 2024 03:47 AM IST

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud at Bicentennial Year Celebration programme of Bar Library Club, Calcutta High Court. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud on Saturday observed that it was dangerous to describe the court as a temple of justice and equate judges with gods.

Addressing the East Zone-II Regional Conference of the National Judicial Academy in Kolkata, he said, “Too very often, we are addressed as Honour or as Lordship or as Ladyship. There is a very grave danger when people say that the court is a temple of justice. It is a grave danger that we perceive ourselves as the deities in those temples.”

He then added, “I would rather recast the role of the judge as a server of the people. And when you regard yourselves as people who are there to serve others, then you bring in the notion of compassion, of empathy, of judging but not being judgmental about others.”

The CJI said that even while sentencing anyone in a criminal case, the judges do so with a sense of compassion, as in the end, it is a human being who is sentenced.

CJI Chandrachud then said it was important to realise the importance of Constitutional morality like the pursuit of diversity, inclusion, and tolerance.

He said, “These concepts of Constitutional morality… are the key, not just for the judges of the Supreme Court or the High Court but also for the district judiciary itself because the engagement of the common citizens begins first and foremost with the district judiciary.”

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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