Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjeev Khanna has been recommended by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud as his successor. Justice Khanna, known for his significant judgments, is now in line to become the next Chief Justice of India. His notable rulings have contributed to shaping constitutional law, human rights, and social justice in the country.
Justice Sanjeev Khanna, a Supreme Court judge, has been recommended as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) by current CJI DY Chandrachud. He is set to take office as the 51st Chief Justice on November 10 and will serve a six-month term.
Here’s an overview of his background and key career highlights:
- During his time in the Supreme Court, Justice Khanna played a crucial role in several significant cases, including those related to the Electoral Bond Scheme, the repeal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and the bail of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
- Born on May 14, 1960, into a family of prominent legal figures, Justice Khanna is the son of Delhi High Court judge Justice Devraj Khanna and the nephew of renowned Supreme Court judge Hansraj Khanna. He completed his schooling at Modern School, Barakhamba Road, Delhi, and graduated from the University of Delhi in 1980. Later, he earned his law degree from the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University.
- Justice Hansraj Khanna famously delivered a dissenting opinion in the 1976 “Habeas Corpus case” (ADM Jabalpur vs Shivkant Shukla), which questioned the suspension of fundamental rights during the Emergency. This decision led to his being passed over for the position of Chief Justice, as the Indira Gandhi government in 1977 appointed Justice MH Beg instead.
- Justice Sanjeev Khanna elevated directly from the Delhi High Court to the Supreme Court. Since 1997, only six judges have made this direct transition, including Justices Syed Abdul Nazeer, Ranjana Prakash Desai, Lokeshwar Singh Panta, GP Mathur, Ruma Pal, and SS Qadri.
- He enrolled as an advocate with the Delhi Bar Council in 1983, initially practicing at the Tis Hazari District Court and later at the Delhi High Court and various tribunals. His areas of expertise include constitutional law, direct taxation, arbitration, and more. Justice Khanna also had a long tenure as Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department and represented the Government of Delhi in various legal matters starting in 2004.
- Justice Sanjeev Khanna held various significant positions throughout his legal career. He served as an Additional Public Prosecutor and Amicus Curiae in numerous criminal cases at the Delhi High Court. In 2005, he was elevated to Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court, becoming a permanent judge in 2006.
- During his tenure at the Delhi High Court, Justice Khanna served as the Chairman/Judge-in-Charge of the Delhi Judicial Academy, the Delhi International Arbitration Centre, and the District Court Arbitration Centre.
- On January 18, 2019, he was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India. Interestingly, he began his tenure in the same courtroom where his uncle, Justice Hansraj Khanna, had once served and later resigned. His uncle’s portrait still hangs in that courtroom.
- According to the seniority system, Justice Khanna will assume the role of the 51st Chief Justice of India starting November 10, 2024, and will serve for six months, until May 13, 2025, just before his 65th birthday.
- Justice Khanna also served as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee from June 17, 2023, to December 25, 2023. Currently, he holds the position of Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority and is a member of the Governing Council of the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal.
Justice Sanjeev Khanna’s judicial career is characterized by a commitment to constitutional values, social justice, and the protection of individual rights. His key judgments reflect a progressive approach to legal interpretation, with a focus on gender equality, privacy rights, corporate governance, human rights, and environmental protection.
As he prepares to take on the role of Chief Justice of India, his past rulings offer a glimpse into the kind of leadership he will bring to the highest judicial office in the country. Justice Khanna’s elevation as the next Chief Justice expected to further solidify the Supreme Court’s role in upholding the Constitution and safeguarding the rights of citizens in a rapidly evolving legal and social landscape.
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