Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud served his last sentence in the Supreme Court on Sunday, before officially resigning from office, making way for his successor Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

The apex court’s latest judgment under Chandrachud’s pen expressed strong opposition to “bulldozer justice”, in which state governments and their departments resort to demolition of personal property of those allegedly involved or named in crimes.

The sentence was delivered on November 6 by the court chaired by the CJI. DY Chandrachudcomposed of judges JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

Notably, the case in question arises from the 2019 demolition of journalist Manoj Tibrewal Aakash’s ancestral home. The high court found that the demolition procedure was only preceded by a public announcement through drums – Munadi – and that no written notification or disclosure of the reasons for the action was given to the occupants.

The Supreme Court ordered the State to pay provisional compensation of $25 lakh to the petitioner, further asking him to initiate a disciplinary inquiry against the officers responsible for the illegal demolition.

CJI Chandrachud final order | Main quotes

• “Bulldozer justice is simply unacceptable in a rule of law. If it were allowed, the constitutional recognition of the right to property under Article 300A would be reduced to a dead letter.”
• “Justice through bulldozers is unknown to any civilized system of jurisprudence. There is a serious danger that if any wing or official of the State allows high-handed and illegal behavior, demolition of citizens’ properties will be carried out in retaliation selective for strange acts. reasons,” the CJI wrote.

• He observed that the voices of citizens cannot be suppressed or disturbed by demolishing their properties and homes. “The maximum security that a human being has is to have a home. Without a doubt, the law does not condone illegal occupation of public property or encroachments,” Chandrachud added.
• The apex court headed by CJI Chandrachud further said, “Public accountability of public servants should be the norm. State officials who carry out or sanction such illegal actions should be subject to disciplinary action and their violations of the law should result in criminal sanctions.”

Chandrachud – who took over as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on November 9, 2022 – will step down as Chief Justice of India on Sunday, followed by Justice Sanjiv Khanna taking office on Monday, November 11.