Fri Sep 13 03:47:41 UTC 2024: ## CJI’s Ganesh Puja with PM Sparks Controversy: Is Secularism Under Threat?

A recent photograph of Chief Justice of India (CJI) D Y Chandrachud celebrating Ganesh Puja with Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sparked controversy and raised questions about the CJI’s adherence to his oath of office and the separation of powers in India.

The photograph, tweeted by the Prime Minister himself, shows the CJI and his spouse in a private ceremony with the PM as an invited guest. This public display of religious affiliation by the CJI has raised concerns about potential bias and the judiciary’s commitment to secularism, a fundamental feature of the Indian Constitution.

Critics argue that the CJI’s participation in the public puja, particularly with the PM, violates the principle of separation of powers and the spirit of secularism enshrined in the Constitution. They point to previous rulings, including the landmark S R Bommai case, where the Supreme Court held that the state should not espouse or practice any religion and that every individual has the right to freedom of conscience and religion.

While the CJI and PM are entitled to their religious beliefs, the public display of their faith, especially during a time when the CJI is presiding over sensitive cases involving Maharashtra politics, raises concerns about the judiciary’s impartiality and its commitment to upholding the Constitution.

This incident follows a pattern of similar occurrences where the CJI has been seen engaging in religious activities, such as visiting the Dwarkadhish Temple in Gujarat and urging lawyers to uphold the “dhwaja of justice,” a Hindu symbol.

The controversy has prompted questions about the role of religion in the judiciary and whether the public display of one faith by constitutional functionaries undermines the principle of secularism in a multi-faith society.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, has highlighted the historical precedent of Maharashtrian judges, including the CJI’s father, who never hosted a PM at their residence for a Ganesh Puja.

This incident has sparked a debate about the sanctity of the judiciary and its commitment to upholding the Constitution. It remains to be seen how the CJI will address these concerns and whether he can assure the public of his commitment to impartiality and the separation of powers.

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