As Chief Justice of India, Justice D Y Chandrachud was “too deferential to the Government” when it came to appointments. At one time, he sought its “nod” before the Collegium had met and, once, even voiced the Government’s “bizarre” query regarding the caste of a minority-faith judge candidate.

This issue, of how to engage with a “political class” that will, inevitably, ask for more was a “strain” in his relationship with the then CJI, reveals Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul in his memoir, ‘Without Fear or Favour’, to be published by Juggernaut later this month.

According to the pre-publication manuscript reviewed by The Indian Express , Justice Kaul, who retired in December 2023 after serving 14 months as “J1,” the most senior puisne judge after the CJI, repeatedly pushed back and once “walked out of the room”.

Justice Kaul’s criticism comes with an important qualification at a time when the role of the Supreme Court vis-a-vis a third-term Government is under increased scrutiny.…