Despite emphasis on bail being the rule, message hasn’t reached dist judiciary

CJI Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, in a candid conversation with Utkarsh Anand, reflected on his tenure and vision for India’s judiciary, outlining critical principles on independence, judicial appointments, and the role of the courts in upholding liberty. CJI: Over the last two decades, the complexity of cases before the Supreme Court has grown immensely—not just constitutional cases, but those dealing with new legislation reflecting India’s evolving economy. However, this fear within the district judiciary must be addressed, and high courts and the Supreme Court should not readily criticise a judge’s motives if they differ on granting bail. If district judges deny bail when they should grant it, or if high courts wrongly intervene, cases unnecessarily escalate to the Supreme Court. Before I became CJI, I was part of a collegium that appointed three women judges to the Supreme Court, so it’s not that my tenure lacked such appointments.