'Out Of Shame, I Could Not...': CJI Chandrachud Recalls Childhood Caning, Vouches For Better Juvenile Justice

During a seminar in Kathmandu, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud recounted a childhood ordeal where he endured corporal punishment to conceal his injured palm from his parents out of shame. Speaking at the National Symposium on Juvenile Justice hosted by the Supreme Court of Nepal, CJI Chandrachud reflected on the lasting impact of the incident.

“I still remember that I requested my teacher to hit my bum and not my hand. Out of shame, I could not tell my parents, and hid my injured right palm for 10 days,” CJI Chandrachud was quoted as saying by media outlets. Recalling the episode from his fifth-grade years, the Chief Justice disclosed his plea to the teacher, preferring a blow to his buttocks over his hand. Addressing the broader context of juvenile justice, CJI Chandrachud stressed the imperative of recognising the vulnerabilities of children entangled in legal conflicts.

‘Children towards delinquent behaviours’

“Children are often driven towards delinquent behaviours by complex societal challenges like economic disparities and social inequalities. Family breakdowns resulting from issues like domestic violence and poverty can leave the children without necessary guidance making them more susceptible to negative influences,” he said.

The Chief Justice advocated for a justice system imbued with compassion, rehabilitation, and avenues for societal reintegration, echoing his late father’s commitment to judicial empathy. He referenced a recent legal petition in India’s Supreme Court concerning the termination of pregnancy for a minor rape survivour, underscoring the judiciary’s pivotal role in safeguarding children’s rights.

D Y Chandrachud arrived in Kathmandu on May 3 on a three-day official trip a first for any sitting Chief Justice of India to visit Nepal. Chandrachud, who was here at the invitation of Chief Justice of Nepal Bishwombhar Prasad Shrestha, was welcomed by the senior most justice at the Supreme Court of Nepal Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

This was the first time in history that any sitting Chief Justice of India paid an official visit to Nepal on record, according to Ved Prasad Upreti, spokesperson at the Supreme Court. Chief Justice of India met his Nepalese counterpart Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha on Saturday and discussed ways to cooperate between the top courts of the two neighbouring countries.

The two chief justices discussed the possible cooperation and exchange between the apex courts of Nepal and India, spokesperson of the Supreme Court Ved Prasad Upreti said. CJ of Nepal Shrestha also hosted a dinner reception in honour of the visiting Chief Justice Chandrachud.

(With agency inputs)

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