Chief Justice delivers verdict on air, upholds Gujarat High Court's promotion policy

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud heard the judgment of a case even during a flight, presenting a rare moment for the judiciary. This became the first judgment in the country where Supreme Court judges deliberated virtually while in the sky. The Chief Justices of the Supreme Courts of the G-20 countries were traveling to Brazil for the J-20 Summit.

The question of whether the policy followed by the Gujarat High Court regarding the promotion of District Judges is legal needed to be decided before the Supreme Court closed for the mid-summer break. The judgment was written by a member of the bench, Justice J.B. Pardiwala. He was contacted using the in-flight internet system and immediately sent the draft judgment to the Chief Justice. Justice Manoj Mishra, also a member of the bench, was connected as well.

The three communicated and finalized the verdict. The court closed yesterday for the mid-summer break. Upon his return from the summit, the Chief Justice read out the judgment in open court. It was then that the 'rarity and curiosity of the judgment' were revealed. The judgment upheld the Gujarat High Court's policy on the promotion of district judges.

"It's a verdict close to my heart because it's a verdict that has traveled from India to Brazil."

-Justice J.B. Pardiwala