'Separation Of Powers Does Not...': CJI Chandrachud Defends PM Modi's Visit To His Residence For Ganpati Puja

CJI Chandrachud On PM Modi's Visit: Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Monday said there was "nothing wrong" in Prime Minister Narendra Modi visiting his official residence for 'puja' during Ganesh Chaturthi. The outgoing CJI also called for a "sense of maturity in political sphere" on such issues.

Following PM Modi's visit to CJI Chandrachud's residence, several opposition leaders and some senior lawyers had raised concerns about the Supreme Court's independence. On the other hand, the BJP had defended the visit as a "part of our culture". Speaking at an event organised by the Indian Express, CJI Chandrachud said that interactions between the judiciary and the executive branches take place as part of a robust inter-institutional mechanism, news agency PTI reported.

"The separation of powers concept does not postulate that judiciary and executive are antagonist in the sense they will not meet or not engage in a reasoned dialogue. In the states, there is a protocol of chief justice and the administrative committee of the high court meeting the chief minister and on the chief minister meeting the chief justice at their residence. In most of these meetings, you are discussing basic issues like budgeting, infrastructure, technology etc," CJI Chandrachud was quoted as saying by PTI.

"The PM visited my residence for Ganpati puja. I do feel, there is absolutely nothing wrong as these are continuing meetings between the judiciary and the executive even at the social level. We meet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, Republic Day, etc. We are in conversation with the prime minister and the ministers. This conversation does not involve the cases which we decide but life and society in general," he said further while addressing the event.

(With inputs from agencies)