Since being named the next Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice Khanna has to adjust his routine to meet specific protocols that come with the role. These requirements have led him to stop his daily 10-kilometer morning walks. As he prepares for his new responsibilities, adherence to security protocols has become a priority, impacting his usual activities.
New Delhi: Justice Sanjiv Khanna is set to be sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on November 11, succeeding CJI D.Y. Chandrachud.
A lifelong Delhi resident, Justice Khanna has deep connections to the city. Taking on the CJI’s responsibilities will likely impact his daily routines; he may no longer enjoy the same freedom of movement as before. Since his appointment was announced, he has begun adhering to strict protocols that have already altered his morning walks.
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Following his official appointment notification, he had to stop his solo morning walks outdoors.
Known for his love of driving through Delhi and visiting friends from his school and college days, Justice Khanna has always been comfortable navigating the city’s streets.
Sources close to him reveal he enjoys solitary walks, often covering 10 kilometers in Lodhi Garden, with a belief that “not many people recognize him.”
Upon being named CJI, he was advised to walk with a security officer, but Justice Khanna opted out, preferring not to walk with a PSO. A graduate of Modern School on Barakhamba Road, St. Stephen’s College, and the Campus Law Centre at Delhi University, Justice Khanna knows the city inside out.
He stays connected with old friends and often drives himself to meet them on weekends, saying,
“Who knows me, anyway?”
His friends note that “he has remained unchanged, staying simple, calm, and avoiding publicity.”
This preference for privacy was evident during the May Lok Sabha elections. While the media waited at Delhi’s Nirman Bhavan polling center, Justice Khanna arrived in his own car, cast his vote, and left unnoticed by the cameras.