New Delhi: The Supreme Court administration has written to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs requesting the recovery of Bungalow No. 5 on Krishna Menon Marg, which continues to be occupied by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, nearly eight months after his retirement.
Justice Chandrachud, who demitted office on November 10, 2024, has remained in the Type VIII government bungalow reserved for the serving Chief Justice, despite the expiry of his extension period on May 31, 2025. The letter from the top court urges the Centre to initiate steps to reclaim the bungalow for immediate reallocation to one of the sitting judges awaiting permanent accommodation.
As per existing rules, a former Chief Justice is entitled to rent-free accommodation of Type VII category for up to six months post-retirement. However, Justice Chandrachud continued to occupy the Type VIII accommodation beyond this period, prompting the court’s administrative wing to seek government intervention.
Three Supreme Court judges are currently residing in transit flats and one in a state guest house due to the unavailability of official residences, sources told NDTV. The prolonged occupation of the Chief Justice’s bungalow has reportedly disrupted the court’s internal housing allotments.
In response to the concerns, Justice Chandrachud informed the court that he had not been able to shift to the Type VII accommodation allotted to him as it was undergoing renovation. He cited personal circumstances, including the housing needs of his daughters with special requirements, as reasons for the delay in vacating the premises.
Justice Chandrachud first sought an extension of his stay on April 28, 2025, through a formal letter, and later made oral requests to then Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and incumbent Chief Justice BR Gavai. While no formal objections were raised by the serving CJIs, the Housing Ministry did not authorize an extension beyond May 31.
In his communication, Justice Chandrachud stated that the bungalow is in the process of being vacated and that his belongings have already been packed. He added that he plans to move out in a few days as soon as the renovations at the new accommodation are completed.
The court’s letter to the Housing Ministry is being seen as a rare official communication concerning a former Chief Justice’s occupancy of government housing and comes amid rising concerns about space constraints for sitting judges.
Justice DY Chandrachud served as the 50th Chief Justice of India from November 2022 to November 2024 and is widely regarded for his progressive judgments on civil liberties and constitutional matters.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs is yet to respond officially to the court’s communication.
