Home Law CJI Owes an Explanation to the People of India Over Puja with PM

CJI Owes an Explanation to the People of India Over Puja with PM

CJI and PM performing a puja together dangerously blurs the lines of separation between the judiciary and the executive, undermining judicial independence and public trust.

By Mehmood Pracha
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CJI DY Chandrachud praying along with PM Modi

CJI DY Chandrachud performing Ganesh puja along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the former's residence in a private ceremony | Photo courtesy: @narendramodi | X

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CJI and PM: A Breach of Judicial Boundaries?

On September 11th, Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted two messages on X, formerly Twitter, featuring images of him attending a private Ganesh Puja at the residence of the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice DY Chandrachud. The same day, a 29-second video was also uploaded on PM Modi’s official YouTube channel, showing the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice praying together during the same ceremony.

As a lawyer and a staunch believer in the sanctity of our judiciary, I find this troubling. There is—and must always be—a clear and inviolable distance between the judiciary and the executive. When the head of government is seen participating in a private religious celebration at the home of the Chief Justice, the lines of separation blur dangerously.

The judiciary is the final guardian of the Constitution, the one institution that, until now, has largely retained public trust. However, moments like this undermine that trust. The appearance of such closeness between the PM and the CJI risks weakening the perception of the judiciary’s independence, which is paramount to its legitimacy.

While some may argue that this was a harmless cultural interaction, the implications cannot be dismissed so lightly. The judiciary must not only be independent but also appear independent. In a time when the public's faith in democratic institutions is being tested, such actions chip away at the judiciary's ability to be seen as a neutral arbiter, free from undue influence. This video will likely be remembered as a moment that damaged the very fabric of judicial independence in India.

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