‘Our Concern Is…’: PM Modi’s Visit To CJI’s Residence For Ganapati Puja Sparks Row

New Delhi: A controversy has erupted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud’s residence in Delhi to attend Ganapati Puja on Wednesday.

While Shiv Sena (UBT) said that the visit will raise doubts on judicial impartiality in the minds of the people, the BJP hit back saying that it was “part of our culture”.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, who tweeted about it and raised concerns about its propriety on Wednesday, again spoke to the media on Thursday morning.

“Our case of Maharashtra… the hearing is going on before CJI Chandrachud, so we have doubts if we will get justice because the PM is the other party in the case. The Chief Justice should distance himself from this case because his relation with the other party in the case is openly visible. Will CJI Chandrachud be able to give us justice in such a situation?” Raut told ANI.

On September 11, Raut shared the video of PM Modi performing aarti at the CJI’s residence on X and tweeted in Hindi, raising concerns about judiciary’s transparency.

The CJI, who is a “custodian of the Constitution”, meeting a politician could raise doubt in the minds of people. He also called upon the CJI to recuse himself from the case in which the Uddhav Thackeray group is contesting the Eknath Shinde-led faction to be recognised as the real Shiv Sena, he commented.

Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi posted on X, hoping that after the festivities, the Chief Justice would focus on finishing the hearing on Maharashtra’s political situation. “Okay. After the festivities are over hopefully CJI will deem fit and be slightly freer to conclude the hearing on Maharashtra and the blatant disregard of Article 10 of the Constitution in Maharashtra. Oh wait, elections round the corner anyway, it can be adjourned for another day,” she wrote.

Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan also expressed shock over the visit for a private meeting.  “…..Sends a very bad signal to the judiciary which is tasked with the responsibility of protecting fundamental right of citizens from the executive & ensuring that the govt acts within bounds of Constitution. That is why there has to be an arms length separation between the executive & judiciary,” he posted on X.

The BJP leaders tried to put up a strong defence for the PM and the CJI. Shiv Sena MP Milind Deora in a statement on X, said, “Casting such baseless aspersions on the highest court sets a dangerous precedent. This reckless attempt to undermine the credibility of the CJI by the opposition is not only irresponsible but also damaging to the institution’s integrity.”