Expressing his deep gratitude, CJI Khanna, who previously served as a Delhi High Court judge, referred to the court as his “home” and stated, “I owe everything to this institution.”
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) honored Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna on Friday(22nd Nov), commemorating his appointment to the highest judicial position in India.
Expressing his deep gratitude, CJI Khanna, who previously served as a Delhi High Court judge, referred to the court as his “home” and stated, “I owe everything to this institution.”
He highlighted the Delhi High Court’s cosmopolitan nature, where “nobody is treated as an outsider,” and shared that his primary purpose in attending the event was to thank the court for shaping his journey as both a lawyer and a judge.
CJI Khanna practiced at the Delhi High Court for 22 years and served as its judge for 13 years before his elevation to the Supreme Court in January 2019. He will serve as CJI until May 13, 2025, when he reaches the retirement age of 65.
The felicitation ceremony saw the presence of several dignitaries, including Supreme Court and high court judges.
Justice Surya Kant of the Supreme Court expressed confidence that CJI Khanna would receive full support in his mission to reduce case backlogs, emphasizing that “the entire team of the Supreme Court and high courts will cooperate to achieve this goal.”
Delhi High Court Chief Justice Manmohan praised CJI Khanna’s ethical and disciplined approach, calling his appointment a proud moment for the bar.
He remarked, “Given his qualities, the image of the judiciary and the Supreme Court will only improve over time.”
DHCBA President Mohit Mathur urged CJI Khanna to address issues related to the elevation of lawyers to judgeships and representation of high courts in the Supreme Court.
Mathur noted the significance of CJI Khanna’s journey, saying, “After 17 years, we can claim the CJI as one of our own.”
Justice Khanna, sworn in as the 51st CJI on November 11 by President Droupadi Murmu, succeeded Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. Coming from a distinguished Delhi-based family, he is the son of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Dev Raj Khanna and the nephew of renowned Supreme Court judge Justice H.R. Khanna.
Driven by a commitment to reducing case pendency and speeding up justice delivery, the 64-year-old represents the third generation of lawyers in his family.
