A landmark change in the Supreme Court didn't last a year. The glass walls installed by former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud were dismantled within a year, squandering ₹2.68 crore of taxpayers' money.
Although the Chief Justice of India (CJI) holds the title of 'First Among Equals', their administrative decisions can have profound impacts. With each new CJI, distinct changes are made to the Supreme Court's operation. When successors overturn these decisions, it not only wastes resources but also raises questions about the stability of the judiciary.
The latest incident involves the removal of glass panels installed for modernization, within just a year. Commencing his term in November 2022, CJI Chandrachud took strides to revolutionize the SC complex, including installing glass partitions outside the first five courtrooms, which was more symbolic than just a mere physical change.
CJI Chandrachud argued that the glass walls would aid centralized air conditioning and make the premises more comfortable. However, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) opposed this change.
Source: aajtak
The associations claimed that narrowed corridors caused accessibility issues and crowding. The primary grievance was implementing such changes without consulting critical court stakeholders.
Restoring the Old Design...
After Justice Chandrachud's retirement, bar associations formally requested his successor, CJI Sanjiv Khanna, to remove the glass. However, no action was taken during Khanna's term. As soon as Justice B.R. Gavai assumed the position as the country's 51st CJI, he declared reverting the Supreme Court's appearance to its 'original form'.
In June 2025, the full court, a collective meeting of all Supreme Court judges, unanimously decided to dismantle the glass partitions. Within days, the glass walls were removed, restoring the corridor to its open, historic design.
Source: aajtak
What's the Total Cost? As RTI Reveals
RTI information obtained by Aaj Tak's Ashok Kumar Upadhyay revealed that the total cost for installing these glass partitions in the Supreme Court complex was ₹2,59,79,230. The task was awarded to M/s B.M. Gupta and Sons through the CPWD's e-tender system.
Moreover, an additional cost of ₹8,63,700 was incurred to remove the glass partitions. Consequently, a total of ₹2.68 crore was expended within a single year. The Supreme Court administration proclaimed that this decision was a 'collective decision' of the full court.
Reversing the Changed Logo
Reversing the glass partitions wasn't the only decision overturned. CJI Gavai also reinstated the Supreme Court's old logo, featuring India's emblem at the center, which was altered under CJI Chandrachud's term in September 2024.
