All India Bar Association Urges PM to Provide Lifelong Government Housing for Constitutional Officeholders

The All India Bar Association (AIBA) has formally written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the government to enact legislation that provides lifelong government accommodation to former Prime Ministers, Speakers of the Lok Sabha, and Chief Justices of India.

The request follows recent reports highlighting the housing difficulties faced by former Chief Justice of India Dr. Justice D.Y. Chandrachud after his retirement. Under existing rules, retired Chief Justices are entitled to rent-free government accommodation in Delhi for only six months. Justice Chandrachud reportedly struggled to find suitable private housing within this timeframe, leading to an extension allowing him to retain the official Chief Justice residence temporarily. This extension delayed the incoming Chief Justice’s occupancy of the residence, causing administrative complications.

In the letter, the AIBA points out the lack of a dedicated, long-term housing policy for former holders of these high constitutional offices, unlike the provisions available to former Presidents and Vice Presidents under the President’s Emoluments and Pension Act, 1951, and the Vice-President’s Pension Act, 1997.

Highlighting the brief and variable tenures of Chief Justices due to seniority-based appointments, the association argues that lifelong accommodation is necessary to uphold the dignity, security, and status befitting such eminent positions.

AIBA Chairman Dr. Adish C. Aggarwala stated,
"Ensuring lifelong government accommodation for former Prime Ministers, Speakers, and Chief Justices is a matter of respect for their service and essential to maintaining the stature of our democracy's pillars."

The letter calls on the Prime Minister to consider this legislation to provide a dignified and practical solution that reflects India’s growing stature on the global stage.

As the government reviews the proposal, the housing issue experienced by Justice Chandrachud serves as a timely reminder of the need to safeguard the welfare and honor of India’s top constitutional officeholders beyond their terms in office.

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