Chief Justice Chandrachud Again Complains About Social Media 'Trolling'

Chief Justice DY Chandrachud has once again complained about being "trolled" on social media. This time he spoke while hearing the same-sex legalisation case, while being part of the Constitution Bench.

His recent remarks from the same Constitution Bench that there are no absolute notions of biological males or females had stirred a debate on social media, especially Twitter. Many on Twitter said that the Chief Justice conflated sex and gender and that he is trying to import woke-western concepts into India.

"Now this has become the name of the game for judges to confront. Answers to what we say in the Court are in the trolls, not in the Court", CJI Chandrachud remarked today.

He was reacting to submissions by Senior Advocate KV Viswanathan about a case in the United States where it was found that there is no data to show that gay couples do not provide their children safety, security or upbringing they require. He submitted that if the principle requiring the welfare of a child is applied, it does not matter whether it is a heterosexual couple or a homosexual couple and that homosexual couple are as well suited to bring up children as a heterosexual couple.

"Mr. Vishwanathan, what happens when there is a heterosexual couple, and the child sees domestic violence? Will that child grow up in a normal atmosphere? A father becoming an alcoholic, coming home and trashing the mother every night and asking for money for alcohol. So much for heterosexuals. There is no absolutes as I said, even at the risk of being trolled", CJI DY Chandrachud said and the lawyers laughed.

Last month, while speaking at a public event, Chief Justice Chandrachud had complained that Judges are having to face the "threat" of being "trolled" by people who do not share the same point of view. "For every little thing that we do, and believe me, as judges we are no exception to this, for everything that you do, you face the threat of being trolled by someone who does not share your point of view," the CJI had said.

However, many on Twitter found the Chief Justice's reference to "trolling" an attempt to stifle criticism of judges. (read report)

Later, several opposition Members of Parliament wrote a letter to President Droupadi Murmu against alleged trolling of Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on social media after his comments on the governor's role in Maharastra.