RTI (Right to Information) was filed by India Today journalist Ashok Kumar Upadhyay. Through this RTI, details of the cost of installation and removal of glass (glass partitions) in the Supreme Court were revealed.
India Today journalist Ashok Kumar Upadhyay through RTI sought information about the glass partitions (glass partitions) in the corridor of the Supreme Court, which were installed during the tenure of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud (November 2022 to 2024). The purpose of which was to support centralized air conditioning and modernize the infrastructure of the court.
In RTI many important revelations have come to light. Which have sparked a discussion among the general public about the matter.
● Total cost of glass partitions 2,59,79,230.
● Expenditure on removal of glass partitions 8,63,700.
● Construction was done during the tenure of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud (2022-2024).
● According to SCBA and SCAORA, lack of space in the corridors became a cause of inconvenience for lawyers, clerks and litigants.
● CJI B.R. Gavai got the glass partitions removed.
According to the RTI disclosure, the installation of glass partitions in the Supreme Court was done by a firm named M/s B.M. Gupta & Sons. This work was done through an open tender process through the e-tendering portal of the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). The total cost of installing the Glass partitions was Rs 2,59,79,230 (approximately Rs 2.6 crore).
These funds were provided by the Ministry of Law and Justice from the budget allocated in the Union Budget for the maintenance and development of the infrastructure of the Supreme Court.
The SCBA and SCAORA had termed the installation of the Partitions as “unnecessary” and “unconsulted” after the retirement of former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. According to them, the Glass partitions reduced the space in the corridors, which was causing inconvenience to lawyers, clerks and litigants in movement.
CJI B.R. Gavai had announced on May 23, 2025, during the farewell ceremony of Justice A.S. Oka, that the Supreme Court would be restored to its “original form” after the summer vacation.
The Glass partitions was removed in June 2025. According to the RTI disclosure, Rs 8,63,700 was spent to remove the Partitions, which restored the corridors to their traditional open state.