The 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice Sanjiv Khanna, took the oath of office on Monday at 10 A.M. at Rashtrapati Bhavan in a ceremony officiated by President Droupadi Murmu. Judge Khanna will take over for Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, who retired on November 10 after a distinguished two-year tenure that saw significant advancements in the judiciary, particularly in the areas of accessibility, technological modernization, and constitutional decision-making.
On October 24, 2024, the Union government publicly recommended Justice Khanna as his successor, in accordance with constitutional standards, one week after Justice Chandrachud made the announcement.
Justice Chandrachud told some publications on Saturday that he was confident in Justice Khanna’s capacity to guide the court into the future, calling him a “extraordinary, seasoned judge with extensive experience in both law and administration.” Confirming his belief in Justice Khanna’s dedication to maintaining justice, integrity, and the rule of law, Justice Chandrachud expressed his trust that “the future of the institution is in safe hands.”
Justice Khanna has almost 40 years of judicial experience. Before moving on to the Delhi High Court, he began practicing at the Tis Hazari district courts of Delhi after enrolling with the Delhi Bar Council in 1983. He held the position of standing counsel for the Delhi National Capital Territory and senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department. He rose to the Delhi High Court in 2005, was appointed a permanent judge in 2006, and, in a remarkable career path, was appointed Chief Justice of no high court before rising to the Supreme Court in January 2019.
Justice Khanna has issued historic rulings that have changed the legal landscape throughout his time at the Supreme Court. His recent ruling on the legitimacy of the electoral bond program highlighted the importance of political fundraising transparency and the right of voters to be aware of the sources of election funding. Additionally, he served on the bench that supported the 2019 repeal of Article 370, which confirmed Jammu and Kashmir’s independence from India. Judge Khanna previously defended the integrity of electronic voting machines (EVMs), opposing calls to switch back to paper ballots and highlighting how EVMs help stop electoral fraud. In a politically delicate case during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Justice Khanna granted temporary bail to Arvind Kejriwal, the then-chief minister of Delhi. This demonstrates his impartial attitude to cases involving prominent individuals and intricate political dynamics.
Justice Khanna’s reputation is entwined with a family history of judicial integrity in addition to his accomplishments as a judge. His uncle, Justice HR Khanna, is regarded as one of the most principled individuals in Indian judicial history for his brave dissent in the ADM Jabalpur case during India’s Emergency in 1976. This stance cost him the position of Chief Justice of India but solidified his reputation as a champion of fundamental rights. His father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna, served in the Delhi high court. Justice HR Khanna ruled that the action was unlawful and against the rule of law, even though the majority decision in this case upheld the suspension of fundamental rights under the Emergency.
As executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), the incoming CJI oversaw efforts to increase access to justice, especially for marginalized groups. It is anticipated that he will prioritize resolving judicial reforms, bolstering judicial independence, and advancing legal services and access nationwide during his limited tenure as CJI, which ends on May 13, 2025. Addressing case pending, an issue that has significantly burdened the Indian legal system, would be one of his main responsibilities. He is supposed to investigate cutting-edge tactics, like classifying cases and integrating technology, to speed up case resolutions without sacrificing the standard of justice administered.
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