How will history judge my tenure? Reflects CJI ahead of retirement

New Delhi, Oct 9: As Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s two-year tenure comes to close on November 10, 2024, the CJI shared his thoughts on legacy, purpose and the balance between tradition and modernity at a convocation in Bhutan while delivering a lecture to the JSW Law School in Bhutan.

With a month to go before his retirement, the CJI said on Tuesday that his mind is preoccupied with thoughts about how history will judge his tenure and what legacy he would be leaving behind for future generations of judges and legal professionals, reported by Bar and Bench.

In a speech delivered at the convocation of JSW Law School in Paro, Bhutan, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud reflected on his nearing retirement and the thoughts that have consumed him as his tenure comes to a close.

"I will be demitting office as the Chief Justice of India in November this year, after having served my country for two years. As my tenure is coming to an end, my mind has been heavily preoccupied with fears and anxieties about the future and the past. I find myself pondering over questions such as: Did I achieve everything I set out to do? How will history judge my tenure? Could I have done things differently? What legacy will I leave for future generations of judges and legal professionals?" Chandrachud said.

CJI Chandrachud assumed office on November 9, 2022, succeeding CJI UU Lalit.

His two-year tenure marks the longest for any Chief Justice in the past 14 years.

Reflecting on his time at the helm of India's judiciary, Chandrachud emphasised that while many of these questions about his legacy are beyond his control, he finds solace in the dedication with which he approached his role.

"The answers to most of these questions lie beyond my control and perhaps, I will never find answers to some of these questions. However, I do know that, over the last two years, I have woken up every morning with a commitment to give the job my fullest and gone to bed with the satisfaction that I served my country with utmost dedication," he said. "It is in this that I seek solace."

While speaking to the graduating class of the Law school in Bhutan, the CJI encouraged the students to embrace their sense of purpose while not becoming overly fixated on outcomes.

"Once you have this sense of faith in your intentions and abilities, it is easier to not get obsessed with the outcomes. You begin to value the process and the journey towards these outcomes," he noted.

The CJI also touched in his lecture on the balance between traditional values and modern democratic principles.

He highlighted the misconception that Asian communities' traditional values conflict with contemporary ideas such as liberty, equality, and dissent.

“A dispassionate look at the history of our communities in Asia often yields a different answer,” he said.

While encouraging young law graduates, the CJI acknowledged the passion and idealism that come with youth, but also the accompanying uncertainty and lack of experience.

His speech urged the next generation of legal professionals to pursue justice while remaining patient and pragmatic.

This reflection, delivered just a month before his retirement, provides a glimpse into the thoughts and concerns of a man who has served during a contested time in India's judiciary.