Modi's Ganpati Puja at CJI's home kicks up controversy

A row erupted in the Opposition circles after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Chief Justice Chandrachud's residence in New Delhi to attend Ganpati Puja on the Ganesh Chaturthi day.

As a video and pictures of Mr Modi performing puja at CJI's residence emerged, an enraged Opposition and some lawyers of the Supreme Court reacted sharply to it, saying it  “compromised the separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary”.

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut suggested that the Chief Justice recuse himself from a case involving the conflict between Shiv Sena UBT and the Eknath Shinde-led faction.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has, however, hit out at the Opposition, calling their reactions “reckless” and “baseless aspersions” on the highest court. 

A video, shared by news agency ANI, showed CJI Chandrachud and his wife Kalpana Das were seen welcoming Mr Modi at their house. Mr Modi also shared a picture of the Ganpati Puja at the CJI's home. He said, “Joined Ganesh Puja at the residence of CJI, Justice DY Chandrachud Ji. May Bhagwan Shri Ganesh bless us all with happiness, prosperity and wonderful health,” triggering reactions.

`It can create douts in people's minds'

Sanjay Raut said, “Ganpathi festival is going on, people visit each other's houses. I don't have info regarding how many houses PM visited so far...but PM went to CJI's house and they together performed 'Aarti'...if a custodian of the Constitution meets politicians, it can create doubt in the minds of people.”

“Our case of Maharashtra...the hearing is going on before CJI Chandrachud so we have doubt if we will get justice because PM is the other party in the case. In our case, other party is the central govt...Chief Justice should distance himself from this case because his relation with the other party in the case is openly visible. Will CJI Chandrachud be able to give us justice in such a situation? We are getting dates after dates and an illegal govt is going on….The CJI who is supposed to give us justice, with him PM has such a bond so yesterday a doubt was formed in the minds of Maharashtra,” he said.

Party MP Priyanka Chaturvedi also highlighted that in view of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra, the case could get adjourned, suggesting a bonhomie between the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India.

Senior lawyer Indira Jaising said the Chief Justice of India has compromised the separation of powers between the executive and the judiciary. “Lost all confidence in the independence of the CJI. The SCBA (Supreme Court Bar Association) must condemn this publicly displayed compromise of Independence of the CJI from the executive,” she said in her post on X.

`It was not socialising'

Hitting back, BJP national general secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh justifiying the visit said: "It was not socialising but a devoted Ganapathi Pooja".

Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Milind Deora also flayed the critics and said it's unfortunate to see "reckless commentary" on PM Modi's visit to the CJI's residence. "When verdicts favour them, the Opposition praises the Supreme Court's credibility, but when things don't go their way, they conveniently claim the judiciary is compromised," he said a post on X.

(By arrangement with livemint.com)