Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on Wednesday voiced his concern about the letter written by Allahabad High Court judge Justice Gautam Chowdhary seeking explanation from railway authorities for not meeting his requirements during a train journey.

In a letter addressed to the Chief Justices of all the High Courts, the CJI expressed displeasure over the letter that went viral on social media.

“This communication has given rise to justifiable disquiet both within and outside the Judiciary. Protocol “facilities” which are made available to Judges should not be utilised to assert a claim to privilege which sets them apart from society or as a manifestation of power or authority,” the CJI said.

“Protocol facilities which are made available to judges should not be used in a manner that is liable to result in inconvenience to others or to bring public criticism of the judiciary,” Chandrachud further said in the letter.

“There was no occasion for an officer of the (Allahabad) High Court to call for an explanation from the railway personnel ‘to be placed before his lordship for his kind perusal.’ Evidently, the officer of the High Court was carrying out a direction of the Judge of the High Court in this instance,” he added.

Justice Gautam Chowdhary has called for an explanation from railway officials for the alleged poor experience he had on a recent train journey he undertook with his spouse. A letter in this regard was sent by the Registrar (Protocol) of the Allahabad High Court to the General Manager of the North Central Railway, Prayagraj, on July 14.

As per the letter, no Government Railway Police (GRP) personnel were found in the coach to meet the requirements of the judge in spite of intimating the authorities concerned. Moreover, no pantry car workers attended to the judge for refreshments, and a call to the pantry car manager went unanswered, the letter said.