Fact Check: No, CJI Chandrachud did not leave midway while hearing case on electoral bonds
The claim was false as the video was clipped.
By Md Mahfooz Alam Published on 19 March 2024 10:56 AM GMT
Claim: CJI DY Chandrachud left the hearing midway while the solicitor general, Tushar Mehta, was making his argument on Electoral Bonds.
Fact: The claim was false as the video was clipped.
Hyderabad: A video of the Supreme Court hearing is in circulation on social media.
The video is being shared with the claim that Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud left the hearing midway while the solicitor general, Tushar Mehta, was making his argument, which shows the ‘arrogance of the judges.’ People sharing the video allege that nepotism is helping judges climb the ladders of the Supreme Court.
“Wow! The advocate continued speaking, and Chandrachud got up and left without saying anything. This video shows how high and obscene the arrogance of judges having family talent and proper DNA sequence in the judiciary. This is the Supreme Court. Supreme Court!” wrote an X user while sharing the video.
Here is an archived version of the post as the user deleted the post with the claim.
Several Facebook and Instagram users shared the post with the same claim. Click here, here and here to view the posts.
Fact Check
NewsMeter found that the claim was false as the video was clipped.
We noticed the logo of Law Today in the viral video. Taking this cue, we looked for the extended version and found it live-streamed on Law Today’s YouTube channel titled ‘Supreme Court Hearing on Electoral Bonds | CJI Chandrachud Led Bench.’
After advocate Harish Salve concludes his argument, the viral clip of Tushar Mehta appears at a 21:50-minute timestamp. However, we did not find CJI leaving the hearing midway. At the 25:53-minute timestamp, he checks the judges sitting to his left and right and makes himself comfortable adjusting the chair. At around 26:09-minute timestamp, white Mehta sits, advocate Mukul Rohtagi starts speaking, and the hearing continues.
The timeframe in which CJI makes himself comfortable on the chair is being shared with the claim that he left the hearing midway. The CJI and other judges leave after the hearing completes at the 46:00-minute timestamp.
We also found the hearing live-streamed on the verified YouTube channel of Live Law. It shows the same visual of CJI checking on judges to his left and right, making himself comfortable at a 33:48-minute timestamp and not leaving the hearing midway.
Hence, we conclude that the viral is clipped, and the claim of CJI leaving the hearing midway is false.
