What does it mean to be the Chief Justice of India?
When there is a disagreement between two or more people or groups, they take their problem to a court. In a court, the judge gives them an answer to their problem.
Judges and courts are very important. A judge is called a ‘Justice’ because it’s their job to deliver justice! The highest court in India is called the Supreme Court (SC).
There is only one SC in the country. This court hears some of the most important cases in our country. The head of the SC is called the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
How is the CJI appointed?
There is one Chief Justice and 30 other judges that form the Supreme Court. They are all appointed by the President of India. The senior-most judge among the 31 judges becomes the CJI.
Once appointed, a CJI must do their duty until they have to retire at 65 years of age. This means that every CJI remains the CJI for a different amount of time. It depends on when they are appointed.
The longest time anyone has been CJI is for 7 years and the shortest is just 18 days!
Who is U.U. Lalit?
On 10th August 2022, Justice Uday Umesh Lalit was appointed as the next CJI. He will be the 49th CJI from 27th August 2022. He has been a judge in the SC since 2014.
Justice Lalit will be CJI for less than three months! He will turn 65 on 8th November 2022, when he will have to retire from his job.
Justice Lalit has judged important cases. Important cases like the protection of children and other religiously important cases.
What are the responsibilities of a CJI?
The CJI decides which cases to give to every judge in the SC. Just like how the Principal decides the duties of all the teachers in school. The CJI makes important decisions and decides the cases which each judge will decide. Being a CJI sounds tough! We wish our next CJI, U.U Lalit, the best of luck!
