I have exposed my personal life to public; shoulders broad to accept criticism: CJI DY Chandrachud

As Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud on Friday bid adieu to the Supreme Court on his last working day, he said his shoulders are broad enough to accept criticism. .CJI Chandrachud was speaking at the farewell function organized by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)."In the court, you realize that you cannot cure all injustice which comes into your plate everyday as a judge. Some injustices are within the realm of the rule of law. Other injustices are beyond what the Courts can do. We are not knight errands. We are governed by law. But you realize that the healing in a court lies in your ability to hear, [it] does not lie in your ability to grant relief," Justice Chandrachud said..CJI Chandrachud added that he has exposed his personal life to public knowledge and when one does so, criticism is natural."I just wanted to tell you that some of the changes we have made are in pursuance of my strong belief that sunlight is the best disinfectant. I know in so many which ways I've exposed my own personal life to public knowledge. And when you expose your own life to public knowledge, you expose yourself to criticism, particularly in today's age of social media, but so be it. My shoulders are broad enough to accept all the criticism that we have faced," he said. .My shoulders are broad enough to accept all the criticism.CJI DY Chandrachud.He also spoke about the trolling he has received on the social media and went on to quote an Urdu couplet to address it."I am sure all of you aware that I have received my share of trolling. I am probably the most trolled judges across the system. I will only say a shayari: Mukhalifat se meri shaksiyat sawarti hai, Mein dushmano ka bada ahteram karta hu [My opponents improve my personality, I respect my enemies very much]. On a lighter note, I am wondering what will happen from Monday because all those who trolled me will be rendered unemployed!".Speaking about his transfer to Allahabad High Court as its Chief Justice, Justice Chandrachud said he had initially been told that he would be made the Chief Justice of Delhi High Court or Madhya Pradesh High Court.When he was informed about his elevation as Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, CJI Chandrachud said, there was a long silence at his home. However, he chose to accept it later, he added."Before I became chief justice of Allahabad High Court, I was told I am becoming chief justice of Delhi High Court. The Delhi HC appointment never came through. Then I was told Madhya Pradesh and even that did not come through. Then one evening I got a call from Justice RM Lodha telling me that I was going to Allahabad High Court as Chief Justice. When I told my wife, there was a long silence. We ate our meal in absolute silence. I came back and wrote to CJI that I am accepting and I shall be delighted," he recounted.He also shared fond memories of his tenure at Allahabad High Court as Chief Justice."My experience in Allahabad changed me forever. The simplicity of Allahabad and warmth of lawyers I learnt so much. I travelled across length and breadth of Uttar Pradesh," the CJI said. .One evening I got a call from Justice RM Lodha telling me that I was going to Allahabad High Court as Chief Justice. When I told my wife, there was a long silence.CJI DY Chandrachud.About his tenure at the helm of India's top court, CJI Chandrachud said the Supreme Court is a Chief Justice-centric Court, unlike the High Courts which function through committees.The Registry of the Supreme Court only looks at the Chief Justice, he added and went on to explain how he attempted to change it."I experimented with constituting committees and my experience was remarkable," CJI Chandrachud said.He further said there was "never" a difference of opinion in the Collegium. "We knew that we are not here for personal agendas to work and we knew that we are here to subserve the interest of the institution," he added..Supreme Court is a Chief Justice-centric Court unlike the High Courts.CJI DY Chandrachud.CJI Chandrachud in his address also spoke about his childhood and his father, former CJI Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud. "My father was very disciplined but he never disciplined us. He bought a small flat in Pune. I asked him why? He said I know I will not stay in it. He told me that keep that flat in Pune till you retire as a judge so that you know that if your moral integrity is to be compromised you can know that you have a roof over your head," he recalled.He also spoke about his children, who were present on the occasion."Word for my lovely children Abhinav and Chintan. I keep on telling them why don't you come to Delhi and argue in Supreme Court, at least I will see you. They told me dad we will do that after (you demit office). Why should we bring disrepute to your name and our name by coming here when you are a judge."The CJI also thanked his wife Kalpana Das and called her a "great friend". "When we got married in 2008, she extracted one promise from me - that I won't wear any jewelry except the wedding ring she gave me. She is truly that kind of a woman, a woman of character and strength.".Sworn in as the 50th Chief Justice of India two years ago, CJI Chandrachud had taken over from former CJI Uday Umesh Lalit. While concluding his speech, he said,"When our memories outweigh our dreams, we become old. I leave the institution with the steadfast confidence that this court is in solid, stable and erudite hands of Justice Sanjiv Khanna.".The CJI-designate, Justice Khanna in his address earlier said that the top court would not be same without the CJI Chandrachud. "From Monday, it will not be the same and there will be a quiet echo in our hearts. He is a scholar as much as a jurist who juggles complex judgements while maintaining a calm and composed demeanour. You are not only an eloquent speaker but also command expertise over the written word," he said.Justice Khanna further said that CJI Chandrachud has a profound compassion with a desire to build a just world wherever he walks. "I never knew him before coming to this Court. Slowly we gelled and we had our opinions and we found out ways and means to deal with it. When he demits office, there will be a vacuum. We will miss his presence physically and we will always feel you among us," he added..SCBA President and Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal called CJI Chandrachud one of the greatest judges of the country. "YV Chandrachud was a judge for 17 years and a CJI for 7 years and I had the opportunity to appear before him. I must say CJI DY Chandrachud has truly outpaced him (former CJI YV Chandrachud)," Sibal said in his address.Sibal added that CJI Chandrachud had delivered some phenomenal judgments when it comes to safeguarding the rights of citizens."CJI was willing to deal with complex issues. I must say the past chief justices did not allow themselves to deal with those issues for years. Whether it's Article 370, same sex marriage or electoral bonds or any of those large issues which changed contours of our being and you were willing to address it and you addressed it with great clarity. We may not agree but we must salute you that you were ready to hear and decide them," he further said. .Attorney General for India R Venkatramani said CJI Chandrachud was leaving behind several happy stories. "We have just passed through the DY Chandrachud era and this is not just any tall statement," he added.