New Delhi: It’s the last week as a judge for the 50th Chief Justice of India, Justice D Y Chandrachud, before his retirement on November 10. From recognising the fundamental right to privacy, de-criminalising homosexuality, scrapping the electoral bond scheme and dissent in the challenge to the Aadhaar Act, Justice D Y Chandrachud has delivered key verdicts since his elevation in May 2016.
He has also led the charge for significant administrative reforms, including the continued digitisation of court records and initiatives for the ongoing e-Courts project. He is the longest serving Chief Justice of India in over a decade. He had begun his judicial career as a judge of the Bombay High Court in March 2000. Before his retirement, here’s a look at some crucial verdicts that he aims to deliver between November 4 and November 8.
- Validity of Madrasa Education: The Supreme Court had reserved its verdict on the legality of Madrasa education in Uttar Pradesh on October 23. Several Muslim bodies moved the apex court challenging the Allahabad High Court order that declared the Uttar Pradesh Board of Madarsa Education Act, 2004, “unconstitutional.” The high court had maintained that the Act violates “the principle of secularism” as well as fundamental rights provided under Article 14 of the Constitution. The bench led by the CJI had earlier observed the signification of accommodating various religious education in a secular state.
- Minority status for Aligarh Muslim University: A seven-judge bench, led by the Chief Justice will decide whether Aligarh Muslim University gets minority status under Article 30 of the Constitution, or not. The bench had reserved judgment on the matter on February 1, 2024. Centre had submitted in the SC that minority educational institutions were not required to implement the reservation policy under Section 3 of the Central Educational Institute (Reservation in Admission) Act, 2006 (as amended in 2012).
- Wealth redistribution: A nine-judge bench, led by the Chief Justice, is hearing the three-decade-old case to decide whether privately-owned property can be considered “material resources of the community” and taken over by the State.
- Delhi Ridge Tree Felling Controversy: This case is regarding the allegations of illegal felling of ridge tress, violating the Supreme Court directive. The matter also questions the role of Delhi Lieutenant Governor, V K Saxena, who had earlier stated in an affidavit that he was ignorant about the need to take approval of SC before felling of the trees.
- Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) licence holders: The top court on August 21 reserved its judgement as to whether a person having the driving licence in respect of a “light motor vehicle” (LMV), could be entitled to drive a “transport vehicle of light motor vehicle class” having unladen weight not exceeding 7500 kg on the basis of the same licence.