Chief Justice of India (CJI) UU Lalit has recommended DY
Chandrachud as his successor. Chandrachud will be the 50th CJI and hold the top
judicial post for two years till November 10, 2024.
According to rules, the retiring CJI names the
senior-most judge as successor after recommending their name to the Union Law
and Justice Ministry. Lalit will retire on November 8.
The ministry asks the CJI to name their successor
nearly 30 days before their retirement. The outgoing CJI chooses the next CJI
based on seniority.
Now that Chandrachud's name has been designated, the
Collegium headed by Lalit will freeze and Chandrachud will appoint a new one
after his swearing-in.
Chandrachud was the additional solicitor general of
India in 1998 and was sworn-in as the chief justice of the Allahabad High Court
in 2013. He has also been a judge at the Bombay High
Court.
He was elevated to the Supreme Court in
2016.
Currently serving as the executive chairman of the
National Legal Services Authority (NLSA), Chandrachud comes from a family associated
with the law. His father YV Chandrachud was the longest-serving CJI between
February 22, 1978, to July 11, 1985.
Chandrachud will take the oath on November 9.