Justice D.Y. Chandrachud was sworn in as the 50th Chief Justice of India on Wednesday. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath at a brief ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The ceremony was attended by Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairperson Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Kiren Rijiju. Outgoing CJI U.U. Lalit was also present.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday as part of the BJP's massive campaign ahead of the Assembly polls, did not attend the CJI's swearing-in. The prime minister will address two public rallies in Himachal's Sujanpur and Chambi on Wednesday. Modi was in the poll-bound state earlier this week when he addressed rallies in Sundernagar and Solan. The state, which goes to the polls on Saturday, has a history of alternating between the Congress and the BJP in every assembly election since 1982.
Speaking at the Kangra rally, Modi said that Himachal needs a stable and strong government of "double engine", and linked the Congress with "instability, corruption and scam".
Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Tuesday said the Congress is making false promises but people won't be misled this time and will bring back the BJP to power. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is also in the state and will hold address rallies in Shimla and Nalagarh on Wednesday.
Speaking after the swearing-in, CJI Chandrachud said heading the Indian judiciary was a "great opportunity and responsibility". Serving common people is my priority. Please look forward, I will work for all the citizens of the country. Be it in technology or be it in registry...or be it in judicial reforms, I will take care of citizens in every aspect," he said.
He has been part of several Constitution benches and landmark verdicts of the top court including on matters relating to the Ayodhya land dispute, the right to privacy and adultery.
Justice Chandrachud was also part of the benches which delivered path-breaking judgements on decriminalising same-sex relations after it partially struck down Section 377 of the IPC, the validity of the Aadhaar scheme and the Sabarimala issue.
-with PTI inputs