The Chief Justice of India, D Y Chandrachud, decided not to discuss the basic structure doctrine in a public setting, opting instead to express his views through his judgments within the court.
During the Ram Jethmalani Memorial Lecture titled ‘Has the served the nation well?’, CJI Chandrachud reminisced about his time working with the late jurist. He acknowledged the topic of the basic structure doctrine but preferred not to address it directly outside the court. He mentioned his different approach to controversial issues compared to Ram Jethmalani and focused on discussing the Supreme Court with the audience.
CJI Chandrachud left the event after his speech. Recently, he presided over a five-judge Constitution Bench that heard petitions challenging changes to Article 370, where the basic structure theory was a key argument.
Union Law Minister Arjun Singh Meghwal also avoided discussing the doctrine in his remarks, indicating that others would cover the topic. CJI Chandrachud highlighted the changes he implemented in the Supreme Court since becoming the Chief Justice, aiming to create a more institutionalized and efficient work environment.
He emphasized the importance of transparency and efficiency in the judiciary, mentioning the work done by the Supreme Court Collegium to evaluate potential judges objectively. The goal is to make the appointment process more transparent by setting clear criteria for selection.
Renowned jurist Fali S Nariman mentioned during the event that the basic structure doctrine is recognized by six nations worldwide, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Uganda, Israel, Malaysia, and Belize.
