In an unprecedented move, the Supreme Court administration has formally written to the Centre, requesting the immediate vacation of the Chief Justice of India’s (CJI) official residence at 5, Krishna Menon Marg, currently occupied by former CJI DY Chandrachud. The letter, dated July 1, was addressed to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and cited a breach of the legally permissible stay duration, reported PTI.

Justice Chandrachud, who served as the 50th CJI from November 2022 to November 2024, has remained in the Type-VIII bungalow for over eight months since demitting office, despite the expiry of the extension period granted to him. According to the Supreme Court Judges (Amendment) Rules, 2022, a retired CJI is entitled to retain a Type-VII bungalow—not the higher-grade official residence of the sitting CJI—for a maximum of six months following retirement.

The apex court's letter to the Centre noted that permission granted to Justice Chandrachud to stay in the Krishna Menon Marg residence expired on May 31, 2025, and the six-month limit outlined in the 2022 Rules had lapsed earlier, on May 10. It urged MoHUA to "take possession of the bungalow without any further delay" and return it to the Supreme Court’s housing pool for use by the incumbent or eligible judges, reported PTI.