Chief Justice of India Stands Firm on Same-Sex Marriage Verdict, Expresses No Regrets

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, in a statement on Monday, expressed no remorse over the Supreme Court's decision to deny legal recognition to same-sex marriages. Chandrachud emphasized that the outcome of a case is never personal to a judge and left the judgment's consequences for the future of society to decide.

During an interview with news agency PTI, CJI Chandrachud acknowledged the strenuous efforts of queer couples in their prolonged battle for rights but maintained that judges do not align themselves with any particular cause. The Supreme Court's five-judge Constitution Bench, on October 17, declined legal recognition for same-sex marriages.

Chandarchud explained the judicial perspective, stating, "One thing which our training teaches us is that once you deliver a judgment in a case, you kind of distance yourself from the outcome. Outcomes are never, in that sense, something which are personal to a judge." He underscored the importance of deciding cases based on the vision of the Constitution and the belief in shaping a just society for the future, emphasizing that he harbored no regrets.

Reflecting on his judicial experiences, Chandrachud noted being in the majority and minority in various cases but emphasized the critical aspect of a judge's life in not associating oneself with a cause. He stated that true dispassion can only be achieved when a judge refrains from aligning with a cause after delivering a judgment.