Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud has vacated his official residence at Bungalow No. 5, located on Krishna Menon Marg in Delhi. The keys to the bungalow, which is reserved for the sitting Chief Justice, were handed over to the concerned department on Friday. This action comes nearly a month after the Supreme Court administration formally requested the central government to reclaim the residence.

Justice Chandrachud, the 50th CJI, served from November 2022 to November 2024. After retiring on November 10, 2024, he continued to occupy the official residence, a Type VIII house, for almost eight months. This led the Supreme Court administration to write to the Union government on July 1, 2025, seeking immediate possession of the bungalow, stating that Justice Chandrachud had overstayed beyond the permissible limit.

Under the Supreme Court Judges (Amendment) Rules, 2022, specifically Rule 3B, a retired CJI is entitled to retain a Type VII bungalow for a maximum of six months post-retirement. The Supreme Court administration pointed out that this six-month period had expired on May 10, 2025, and the permitted extension until May 31, 2025, had also passed.

According to sources, the delay in vacating the residence was due to specific family requirements. Justice Chandrachud's two daughters have special care needs, making it challenging to find a suitable residence. The former CJI clarified that he had communicated these personal reasons to the Supreme Court administration and successive Chief Justices.

In December 2024, Justice Chandrachud sought permission from the then CJI Sanjiv Khanna to retain the bungalow, and the request was approved. Subsequently, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) granted permission for him to retain the accommodation from December 11, 2024, to April 30, 2025, upon payment of a monthly license fee of ₹5,430. He then made an oral request to continue residing there until May 31, 2025, which was granted with the condition that no further extension would be permitted.

Following his departure from the Krishna Menon Marg residence, Justice Chandrachud has moved into a government-allotted bungalow on Teen Murti Marg. The new residence is currently undergoing renovation by the Public Works Department (PWD), with completion expected in two to three weeks. Despite the ongoing work, the family has already moved into the property due to the urgency of the move. The new residence is being modified to meet the specific needs of his daughters.

Interestingly, neither of Justice Chandrachud's successors, Justice Sanjiv Khanna and current CJI BR Gavai, chose to occupy the official residence. Justice Khanna served a brief six-month term but opted not to move into the Krishna Menon Marg bungalow, and Justice Gavai has also remained in his previously allotted official residence.

The vacation of the residence marks the end of Justice Chandrachud's official post-retirement stay and the bungalow is now expected to be available for the incumbent Chief Justice of India. The relocation process was carried out in coordination with the government, following protocol and precedent.