Picture of CJI DY Chandrachud's Mercedes number plate goes viral, sparks buzz

CJI DY Chandrachud has been permitted the use of the Mercedes as a perk. The vehicle is registered under the registrar of the Supreme Court. (Image credit: @LloydMathias/X)

A picture of the number plate of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has recently gone viral and sparked a debate on social media. The Mercedes bears a distinctive registration number: DL1 CJI 0001.

The picture was first shared by angel investor Lloyd Mathias on X.

"Saw Chief Justice of India, Dhananjay Chandrachud at a private function in Delhi yesterday. On my way out, I couldn’t help notice his car’s licence plate number: DL1 CJI 0001. Very cool. Wonder if the Chief Election Commissioner’s car number plate is DL1 CEC 0001?" he wrote.

Saw Chief Justice of India, Dhananjay Chandrachud at a private function in Delhi yesterday. On my way out, I couldn’t help notice his car’s licence plate number: DL1 CJI 0001. Very cool.
Wonder if the Chief Election Commissioner’s car number plate is DL1 CEC 0001? pic.twitter.com/Te6lLxVI42

— Lloyd Mathias (@LloydMathias) February 18, 2024

While initially social media users were awed by the remarkable number plate, later others pointed out that the vehicle belongs to the registrar of the Supreme Court of India and using it is one of the perks DY Chandrachud enjoys as the CJI.

The car is registered in the name of “ Registrar Supreme Court Of India”.

It’s a basic perk Justice Chandrachud enjoys as the CJI https://t.co/bHv4CIU9sK pic.twitter.com/BCZcarvZ65

— Rishi Bagree (@rishibagree) February 18, 2024

The CJI recently made headlines after he said that university education in law should be extended to remote rural areas so that students from small towns are not deprived of the opportunity to become lawyers.

Speaking at the inauguration event of the Dr Rajendra Prasad National Law University here, Chandrachud said, "Technology has given us the ability to reach out to far-flung students. Despite developments in legal education, the contemporary legal education system favours only English-speaking urban children."

He said, "A survey conducted on diversity in five law universities shows that children from diverse backgrounds are unable to get admission in these universities due to not being able to speak English." DY Chandrachud added that even opportunities as moot courts, internships and competitions were traditionally designed keeping in mind children coming from elite families. "Law colleges and universities should design it keeping in mind children coming from diverse backgrounds," he said.

Read more: Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud sings 'Jingle Bells' on Christmas. Watch