Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud will formally resign on Sunday. Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, will succeed him.

After a long career as a lawyer and judge, the head of the nation’s judiciary, Justice Chandrachud, had his last day in court on Friday. During his tenure on the Supreme Court, he delivered several landmark decisions. Here’s a look at some of his important verdicts.

*On August 24, 2017, the Supreme Court of India unanimously ruled in a historic decision that the right to privacy is guaranteed by the Constitution as a fundamental right. Justice Chandrachud, who wrote the majority judgment, emphasized the importance of privacy for people’s autonomy and sense of dignity in a democracy.

*The Supreme Court of India struck down Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code on 6 September 2018, decriminalizing consensual same-sex relationships. A five-judge bench ruled that sexual orientation is an inherent component of human dignity, with Justice Chandrachud giving a concurring judgment.

*Section 497 of the IPC, which criminalized adultery but only punished men, was struck down by the Supreme Court on 27 September 2018. In his ruling, Justice Chandrachud ruled the statute unconstitutional, citing violations of personal liberty and gender equality.

*Citing violations of safety and construction standards, the Supreme Court ordered the demolition of Supertech’s twin buildings in Noida on August 31, 2021. To maintain the integrity of the government and ensure public safety, Justice Chandrachud emphasized the importance of enforcing building rules.

*In a power struggle with the lieutenant governor, the Supreme Court ruled on 11 May 2023 that the Delhi government is responsible for all administrative functions except for land and law enforcement. By upholding the control of elected representatives over the government in Delhi, Justice Chandrachud’s judgment strengthened democratic governance.

*In the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute, he authored the 2019 unanimous judgment that resolved the over a century-long contentious issue and paved the way for the construction of the temple. At that time, Ranjan Gogoi was the Chief Justice and President of the five-judge bench.

Farewell speech

In his farewell speech, Justice Chandrachud praised his successor, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, as a capable and responsible leader who will carry out the task of strengthening India’s judiciary. “It will not make any difference when I leave this court because someone as stable as Justice Khanna will take over,” he said.

Justice Chandrachud’s influence will surely last long after he retires, as his judgments will likely continue to shape Indian law for years to come.

He practiced law in the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court and was Visiting Professor of Comparative Constitutional Law at the University of Mumbai.

With inputs from PTI