My Faith Not Linked To My Ability To Dispense Justice: Ex-CJI Chandrachud To News18 – News18

Last Updated:November 19, 2024, 20:34 IST

“I did not say that I pray to a particular deity. I said that I spend my time in prayer and meditation,” says ex-CJI DY Chandrachud

Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, in an exclusive interview with CNN-News18’s Zakka Jacob, cleared his stance on the controversy over his “prayer” ahead of the Ayodhya verdict, saying he was a “person of faith”.

“In that instance, praying before the Ayodhya judgment does not mean that I only prayed before that specific judgment…I have made it clear that I am a person of faith and I do pray every day. My faith has nothing to do with my ability to dispense justice,” he said.

“We decide in accordance with the law. Judges must have a sense of equanimity. All the work is in the arena of some conflict, it can be any type of conflict. Across the spectrum what keeps the judge rooted, that you maintain the sense of calm. Don’t get irritable in the court. Everybody has their own formula,” the ex-CJI added.

“For me, the time I spend in meditation in the beginning of every day is very crucial. I did not say that I pray to a particular deity. I said that I spend my time in prayer and meditation. The God to which I pray is universal. Praying to God does not mean you are praying to a particular religion, but to the universe that what work we do today is not injustice,” he said.

Ex-CJI’s statement that he had prayed for a solution to the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute before pronouncing the verdict had led to a controversy. He

At an event at his hometown Pune, the PTI had quoted him saying, “Very often we have cases (to adjudicate) but we don’t arrive at a solution. Something similar happened during the Ayodhya (Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid dispute) which was in front of me for three months. I sat before the deity and told him he needs to find a solution.