On a simple question being asked about the judges' chairs not being equal of equal height in the Supreme Court, made even the Chief Justice think about it and bring changes. One of the audience members asked this question to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud at an event during his recent foreign trip. That question was so effective that its effect was visible as soon as the Chief Justice returned to India. After this, there is a clear uniformity in the court. New chairs were installed for the judges in the court, in which the height of all was kept equal. The change in the apex court is part of recent infrastructure upgrades, including new digital technology.

Supreme Court registry officials said that over the years, judges have been setting their chairs according to their needs and comfort. But the varying height of the chairs on the benches never went unnoticed until CJI Chandrachud was asked by an audience at an event in the UK during the court's summer break. A curious viewer watching the court proceedings online in the program asked the CJI: "Can you tell me why the chairs in the Supreme Court have different heights?"

CJI Chandrachud immediately realized that he was right and on his return to India conveyed this to his staff. They also agreed that it was an important question. He said that the different heights are because different judges keep setting their chairs according to their needs at different times. The main reason for this is back problems due to working in the same position for a long time.

The CJI then directed the court officials that the entire structure of the chairs, including the arm, back, and seating area, should be adjustable, but the height should remain the same. These instructions were fully followed. When the courts reopened, the chairs were adjusted to an equal height and the entire structure was made comfortable.

Officials at the Supreme Court Registry said these chairs were a few decades old, though they were unable to pin down the exact year of purchase. The main frame of these chairs was never changed as the court wanted to retain the traditional design, but the back was remodeled from time to time depending on the requirements and preferences of individual judges.

He pointed out that former CJI NV Ramana, for example, had adjusted his sitting position to suit orthopedic requirements and so did the current CJI Chandrachud a few years ago when he had lower back problems. Chairs are a lifeline for judges, as they have to sit for long periods of time, and chairs that do not have hydraulic height adjustments or modern features such as push-back or swive can be particularly troublesome for people with back problems.

Looks like the change didn't help to fix the problem either. Because Justice Surya Kant, who is suffering from back problems, was seen on August 2 using a small office chair during the hearing of petitions challenging the changes made in Article 370 of the Constitution and also in his regular courtroom.