New Delhi, Nov 10: Justice Sanjiv Khanna is set to assume office as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday, November 11, in a significant transition for the Indian judiciary. The oath-taking ceremony will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath at 10 a.m., marking the beginning of Justice Khanna’s term following the retirement of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.
Justice Khanna’s tenure as CJI, lasting until May 13, 2025, comes after his distinguished service as a Supreme Court judge since January 2019. Known for his decisive role in several historic rulings, Justice Khanna has helped shape landmark judgments on issues including the annulment of the electoral bonds scheme and the abrogation of Article 370. His appointment was confirmed by the central government on October 24, upon Chief Justice Chandrachud’s recommendation.
A third-generation lawyer, Justice Khanna hails from a respected Delhi family steeped in legal tradition. His father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna, was a judge of the Delhi High Court, and his uncle, the late Justice H.R. Khanna, made headlines with his bold dissenting judgment during the Emergency in 1976. In the infamous ADM Jabalpur case, Justice H.R. Khanna opposed the abrogation of fundamental rights, a stance that led to his supersession for the position of CJI. His legacy endures in Indian jurisprudence, particularly for his contribution to the “basic structure” doctrine laid out in the Kesavananda Bharati case, which asserts that certain constitutional principles are inviolable.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna has brought similar rigor and principle to his judicial work, with notable judgments that impact India’s democratic and legal landscape. A prominent ruling in 2023 upheld the security and reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs), rejecting calls to return to paper ballots and asserting that EVMs reduce the risks of booth capturing and fraudulent voting. His skepticism toward the electoral bonds scheme, which he deemed unconstitutional, is another testament to his commitment to transparency in political funding.
Justice Khanna was also part of the five-judge bench that upheld the 2019 abrogation of Article 370, a historic ruling which ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. In a pivotal move, his bench granted interim bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, permitting him to campaign in the Lok Sabha elections amid allegations in the excise policy case, underscoring his balanced approach to upholding individual rights within the bounds of judicial fairness.
Educated at Delhi University’s Campus Law Centre, Justice Khanna was enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. He began his career in the District Courts at Tis Hazari before moving to the Delhi High Court, where he later served as senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department. His career saw him hold the position of additional public prosecutor, and he frequently acted as an amicus curiae in several high-profile cases, helping clarify critical points of law.
Justice Khanna has also contributed significantly to legal aid and access to justice, serving as executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), where he worked to ensure justice for underprivileged sections of society.
As he takes on the mantle of Chief Justice, Justice Khanna brings both a deep legal acumen and a commitment to judicial integrity. His past judgments reflect a vision that aligns with India’s evolving democratic values and underscores his dedication to transparency, fairness, and judicial efficiency. He is expected to prioritize timely case resolution, aiming to tackle the backlog of cases pending in the courts, a challenge the judiciary has been striving to address.
Justice Khanna’s installation as Chief Justice is expected to usher in a phase of judicial continuity, building upon the initiatives of his predecessors while addressing pressing issues in the justice system. His leadership is anticipated to reinforce public trust in the judiciary and shape a responsive judicial environment that meets the complex needs of modern Indian society.