Justice Sanjiv Khanna will be sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India on Monday, following a distinguished tenure as a Supreme Court judge.
President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office at Rashtrapati Bhavan in a ceremony scheduled for 10 am.
Justice Khanna, who has been part of several landmark judgments, will succeed Justice DY Chandrachud, who retired on Sunday. Justice Khanna's term as Chief Justice will extend until May 13, 2025.
The appointment of Justice Khanna was officially notified by the Centre on October 24, after being recommended by Chief Justice Chandrachud on October 16. Justice Chandrachud’s final working day as CJI was Friday, during which he received a warm farewell from colleagues, lawyers, and staff of the apex court and high courts.
Justice Khanna has been a member of the Supreme Court since January 2019, and has made significant contributions to Indian jurisprudence.
He has been part of critical decisions such as upholding the sanctity of electronic voting machines (EVMs), declaring the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional, and supporting the abrogation of Article 370, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
He was also part of the bench that granted interim bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with the excise policy case.
Justice Khanna hails from an esteemed legal family. He is the son of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Dev Raj Khanna and the nephew of Justice H R Khanna, a prominent figure in Indian legal history.
Justice H R Khanna gained national attention in 1976 when he resigned from the Supreme Court after dissenting in the ADM Jabalpur case, which upheld the suspension of fundamental rights during the Emergency.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna, a third-generation lawyer, was appointed to the Delhi High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court. He has consistently advocated for reducing pendency and speeding up the justice delivery system. His father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna, was also a respected figure in the legal community.
In his early career, Justice Khanna served as the senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department and the standing counsel for the National Capital Territory of Delhi. He has also represented the Delhi High Court in criminal cases and served as an amicus curiae in several matters.
Justice Khanna's tenure as Chief Justice is expected to bring continued reform and efficiency to India’s judicial system, with a focus on ensuring timely delivery of justice and upholding constitutional principles.
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