Anxious how history will judge my tenure: CJI Chandrachud  

A month before demitting office, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud is anxious about the way history would judge him and the legacy he would leave for future generations of judges.

Speaking at the third convocation ceremony of the Jigme Singye Wangchuck (JSW) School of Law in Bhutan on Tuesday, the CJI – who is set to retire on November 10 -- expressed his “fears and anxieties” about certain questions related to the future and the past -- answers to most of which were beyond his control.

“Pardon me for being a little vulnerable. I will be demitting office as the Chief Justice of India in November this year, after having served my country for two years. As my tenure is coming to an end, my mind has been heavily preoccupied with fears and anxieties about the future and the past. I find myself pondering over questions such as: Did I achieve everything I set out to do? How will history judge my tenure? Could I have done things differently? What legacy will I leave for future generations of judges and legal professionals?” Justice Chandrachud – the 50th CJI -- wondered.

“The answers to most of these questions lie beyond my control and perhaps, I will never find answers to some of these questions. However, I do know that, over the last two years, I have woken up every morning with a commitment to give the job my fullest and gone to bed with the satisfaction that I served my country with utmost dedication. It is in this, that I seek solace. Once you have this sense of faith in your intentions and abilities, it is easier to not get obsessed with the outcomes. You begin to value the process and the journey towards these outcomes,” the CJI said.

Sharing the experience of his own professional journey, he said, “Like many of you, I also grew up as a child, with an unrelenting passion to make a difference in the world around me. Driven by this insatiable zeal, I often pushed myself to extremes, habitually working long hours and carrying a heavy burden, as if the world’s problems rested solely on my shoulders.

“However, over the years, I have come to realise that our ability to contribute to our community is deeply rooted in our self-perception and capacity for self-care. It is crucial to prioritise our well-being and find joy in the process. We often put our heart and soul into a project but fail to enjoy the journey because we are caught up in the fear of reaching the destination. As someone who is a few decades older than you, I can tell you that these fears are not easy to wish away; however, personal growth lies in being able to address them and tackling them head-on,” the CJI told the law students.

He said, “In our youth, we often burn with a fierce desire to right the wrongs of the world. We feel the weight of injustice, the sting of inequality, and the cry for freedom. But all too often, our zeal is tempered by inexperience, uncertainty and lack of opportunity. As young professionals, your education in law, politics and economics has now equipped you with the vocabulary and skills necessary for effective advocacy. The time has come to combine the passion and idealism of your youth with the sophistication and expertise of your training.”

The CJI said, “As you embark on professional journeys, remember the inner child who dreamed of transforming the world. This idealism remains a guiding principle, a mandate for recipients of this exceptional education. Upon graduation, your paths will diverge – some of you will shape policy in government as members of the civil services, others will navigate private law, and a few may forge new trails abroad. Yet, regardless of the route you choose, remain mindful of the purpose that brought you here.”

Quoting American author and Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison, the CJI said, “When you get these jobs that you have been so brilliantly trained for, just remember that your real job is that if you are free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”