The Supreme Court of India has formally requested the Union government to ensure the prompt vacation of the official residence of the Chief Justice of India, located at 5 Krishna Menon Marg in New Delhi, currently occupied by former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The court’s administration emphasised that Justice Chandrachud, who retired in November 2024, has overstayed the permissible period for retaining the government bungalow.
The Supreme Court wrote to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) on July 1, 2025, highlighting that the time limit for Justice Chandrachud’s stay, as per prior permissions, has expired, as reported by NDTV. The residence, designated as a Type VIII bungalow for the sitting Chief Justice, is part of the court’s housing pool and is urgently needed due to a shortage of accommodations for other judges. Reports indicate that three sitting Supreme Court judges are currently residing in transit flats, while one is in a state guest house, underscoring the pressing need for the bungalow’s return.
Justice Chandrachud, who served as the 50th Chief Justice of India from November 2022 to November 2024, had sought and received approval to retain the residence until April 30, 2025, after writing to then-Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna in December 2024, citing personal circumstances. Under Rule 3B of the 2022 Rules, a retired Chief Justice is entitled to retain a Type VII residence for up to six months post-retirement, a period that ended for Justice Chandrachud on May 10, 2025.
The Supreme Court’s letter to the government stressed that Justice Chandrachud’s continued occupancy violates both the approved timeline and statutory provisions, prompting the court to seek immediate action. The move has sparked discussions about judicial accountability, with some observers noting the rarity of such a directive from the Supreme Court administration regarding a former Chief Justice.
This development comes amid Justice Chandrachud’s active post-retirement engagements, including his appointment as a distinguished professor at National Law University, Delhi, and his role as an appointing authority in an international arbitration case.
