On November 11, 2024, at 10:00 AM, India’s President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Khanna will begin his six-month tenure, during which he will oversee key legal developments and lead the judiciary as the highest law authority in India.
Who is Justice Sanjiv Khanna?
Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, was nominated to the position of Chief Justice by outgoing CJI DY Chandrachud, who retired on November 10, 2024, after a one-year tenure. Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna’s legal career began in 1983 when he joined the Delhi Bar Council as an advocate. His career quickly progressed, and he served in various significant legal roles, including as Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department and Standing Counsel (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi in 2004. Over the years, he gained expertise in constitutional law, taxation, arbitration, commercial law, and environmental law.
In 2005, Justice Khanna was appointed as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court and became a permanent judge in 2006. On January 18, 2019, he was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court without having previously served as Chief Justice of a High Court. Apart from his judicial duties, he also serves as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority and is a member of the Governing Council of the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal.
Education and Family Background
Justice Khanna’s academic background is impressive. He completed his early schooling at New Delhi’s Modern School and graduated from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi in 1980. He then pursued a law degree at the Campus Law Centre, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi.
Justice Khanna hails from a family with a strong legal background. His father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna, served as a judge at the Delhi High Court before retiring in 1985. His mother, Saroj Khanna, was a prominent Hindi lecturer at Lady Shri Ram College in Delhi. Notably, Justice Khanna’s uncle, Hans Raj Khanna, was a former judge of the Supreme Court of India, famous for propounding the basic structure doctrine in 1973 and for his judgment in the 1976 Habeas Corpus case.
Key Judgments by Justice Sanjiv Khanna
Justice Khanna has contributed significantly to the Indian judiciary, delivering several landmark judgments. Some of his notable decisions include:
- Abrogation of Article 370 – His participation in the decision to revoke Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, was a defining moment in Indian constitutional law.
- Striking down of the Electoral Bond Scheme – Justice Khanna was part of the bench that struck down the controversial Electoral Bond Scheme, which had raised concerns about transparency in political funding.
- Divorce under Article 142 – He was involved in interpreting the application of Article 142 in matters related to divorce, ensuring a more nuanced understanding of constitutional provisions.
- Dismissal of Plea for 100% VVPAT Verification – He was part of the bench that dismissed a plea seeking 100% verification of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips.
- Right to Information (RTI) and Judicial Independence – Justice Khanna emphasized the importance of judicial independence and transparency, reinforcing the need for the judiciary to be accountable under the Right to Information Act.
Retirement and Succession
Justice Sanjiv Khanna is set to retire on May 13, 2025. He will be succeeded by Justice B.R. Gavai, who is currently the third-most senior judge of the Supreme Court.
