Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, succeeding Justice DY Chandrachud, who retired on November 10 at the age of 65. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office during a ceremony graced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, and other prominent leaders.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s appointment follows the recommendation made by Justice DY Chandrachud prior to his retirement. He will serve as the Chief Justice of India until May 13, 2024. Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Sanjiv Khanna hails from a family with a rich legal tradition. A third-generation lawyer, he pursued his law degree at the Campus Law Centre of Delhi University and began his legal career before being elevated as a judge of the Delhi High Court.
Throughout his career, Justice Sanjiv Khanna has demonstrated judicial acumen and leadership. As the executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), he worked to ensure access to justice for marginalized communities. In January 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court, where he presided over several politically and socially significant cases. Among them was the high-profile bail application of Aam Aadmi Party leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the liquor policy case. In a notable decision, his bench granted interim bail to Kejriwal in May to allow him to campaign during the Lok Sabha elections. Later, in July, the bench again granted interim relief while referring the matter to a larger bench to examine the misuse of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
Justice Sanjiv Khanna has been part of the Constitution Bench on landmark cases, including the revocation of Article 370, which ended Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and the electoral bonds case, which scrutinized political funding transparency. His bench also addressed issues related to the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), showcasing his involvement in upholding democratic processes.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s tenure is expected to be marked by significant judicial interventions as he leads the Supreme Court at a time of critical legal and constitutional challenges.
