Not only through words, my work will speak: Chief Justice DY Chandrachud after taking oath

Justice Dhananjaya Yashwant Chandrachud was sworn in as the 50th Chief Justice of India on Wednesday (November 9). After taking the oath, administered by President Droupadi Murmu at a brief ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the first thing India’s new Chief Justice said is that serving the ordinary citizen is his priority.

“To serve the nation is my priority. We will protect the citizens of India,” he said promising reforms in registry reforms, or judicial reforms. In his first comment after taking the oath, the new CJI said, “It is a great opportunity and responsibility. Not only through words, but through my work, I will ensure that people keep faith in judiciary.”

CJI Chandrachud also paid tribute to the Mahatma Gandhi statue after taking oath.

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He took over as the head of India’s Judiciary from Justice Uday Umesh Lalit, who demitted office on Tuesday. On October 11, CJI Lalit had recommended Justice DY Chandrachud as his successor to the Centre.

Justice DY Chandrachud will serve as the chief of the expansive Indian judicial system for two years till November 10, 2024.

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The senior-most Supreme Court judge stepped into the shoes of his father Y V Chandrachud, who was the CJI between 1978 and 1985, the first instance of a father-son duo occupying the most sanctified seat in the over seven-decade history of the highest court of India.

Justice DY Chandrachud has been part of several constitution benches and penned landmark verdicts at the top court, including those in the vexed Ayodhya land title dispute.