The Supreme Court administration has requested the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs to immediately take possession of the official residence currently occupied by former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud. The letter, dated July 1, 2025, addresses the continued occupation of Bungalow No. 5, Krishna Menon Marg in Lutyens' Delhi, by Justice Chandrachud, even after his retirement in November 2024.

According to government regulations, a retired CJI is permitted to reside in a government house for a specific period, which is six months in a Type VII house. However, Justice Chandrachud has been occupying a higher category, Type VIII bungalow, for nearly eight months post-retirement. The Supreme Court's letter emphasizes that the extended deadline for vacating the bungalow expired on May 31, 2025, and that the six-month period allowed under Rule 3B of the 2022 housing regulations had also passed on May 10, 2025.

Justice Chandrachud responded to the Supreme Court's letter, citing compelling personal reasons for the delay in vacating the premises. He explained that he had been allotted an alternative government house on Tughlaq Road, but it required extensive renovation due to being closed for over two years. The renovation work was further delayed due to restrictions imposed under the GRAP-IV pollution control regulations.

Furthermore, Justice Chandrachud highlighted the special needs of his two daughters, who suffer from severe genetic and muscle diseases, including nemaline myopathy. This necessitates a specific type of accommodation and specialized care, which has made it challenging to find a suitable home. He assured the court that he was fully aware of his responsibilities and was actively working to resolve the matter within a few days. He also clarified that the court administration had been informed about these concerns.

It's important to note that Justice Chandrachud had initially sought permission in December 2024 to retain the Krishna Menon Marg bungalow until April 30, 2025. He offered to forgo the bungalow allotted to him post-retirement. The request was approved, with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs granting permission until April 30, 2025, subject to a monthly license fee. Subsequently, he made an oral request for a further extension until May 31, which was granted with the explicit condition that no further extensions would be permitted.

The Supreme Court's urgency in reclaiming the bungalow stems from the fact that four of its judges are currently without government-allocated accommodations. Three of them are residing in transit apartments provided by the Supreme Court, while one is staying in a state guest house. Additionally, two successive CJIs, Justice Sanjiv Khanna and current CJI BR Gavai, have chosen not to occupy the 5 Krishna Menon Marg bungalow, opting to remain in their previously allotted residences. This has further compounded the need to return the Chief Justice's official residence to the court's housing pool.