While terming the Supreme Court as a people-centric court and not a polyvocal one, Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud said that the true essence of the Apex Court lay in its diversity as each judge brought his own unique experience to the table.
Speaking during the felicitation function of newly-appointed Apex Court judges – Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice S.V.N. Bhatti on Tuesday, the CJI said that in the Supreme Court, a Bench comprising judges from Maharashtra and West Bengal could be deciding a matter from Haryana.
He said people would trust the judiciary when the people dispensing justice would reflect them.
Noting that the latest appointment of judges has brought diversity to this court, the CJI pointed out that the recent elevation of Justice Bhatti was proof that the institution of the Supreme Court belonged to India, not to Delhi or Maharashtra alone.
Applauding the felicitation function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for the newly-inducted SC judges, the CJI said that such events were crucial to demonstrate the importance of solidarity between members of the bar irrespective of their language, caste, religion and identity.
He further mentioned the issue of accommodation in the national capital, stating that non-Delhi resident judges had to face this problem during the initial months of their tenure, when they were appointed to the Supreme Court.
As per the CJI, the newly-appointed judges often had to stay at state government Sadans (guest houses) for around 5-6 months, yet there was no let up in their reading and disposing of SLPs.
Noting that there was no straight answer to the problem, the CJI said that the Apex Court was providing transit accommodation to help the people.
Speaking on the occasion, Justice Bhuyan said that he faced the dilemma on whether to accept judgeship of the Gauhati High Court, since his law practice was beginning to pick up substantially, when he was given the invitation to be on the Bench.