Ex-CJI's 'prayed to god for solution to Ayodhya dispute' remark is disappointing: Retired Justice K Chandru

Chennai: Former Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud’s statement that he prayed to god for a solution to the Ram Mandir issue in Ayodhya while he was handling a case relating to the dispute amounts to making a “mockery” of the judicial system, retired judge justice K Chandru said here on Tuesday. 

Justice Chandru, in his speech at an event here, also said Chandrachud’s comments did cause disappointment to people who are and were part of the judicial system. 

Speaking about the state of judiciary in India, the outspoken retired judge of the Madras High Court asserted that every judge who swears by the Constitution of India while attaining the post should function as “protectors of Democracy.”

“Whenever a judge assumes office, he has to take oath in the name of the socialist, secular, and democratic republic of India. Believers take oath in the name of god, while non-believers say I solemnly affirm while taking oath. Every judge should be a protector of democracy, but people don’t believe it. They look the other way,” justice Chandru said.

One person swears-in in the name of god, and people ask whether God writes the judgements pronounced by the (particular) judge, he said, adding that judges pen their verdicts based on the law they studied and their understanding of the Constitution of India. 

“If I say I didn’t write the judgement, but it was him (God), it amounts to making a mockery of the entire judicial system. We were disappointed with (such) comments made by (ex) CJI,” justice Chandru said, without naming justice Chandrachud. 

Justice Chandrachud had in October, weeks before he retired, said he prayed to God for a solution to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute and asserted God will find a way if one has faith. Justice was part of the five-judge bench that settled the Ram Janmabhoomi issue by paving the way for the construction of the Ram temple in Ayodhya.