Justice Sanjiv Khanna, recognized for his commitment to citizen rights and judicial integrity, is set to become India’s 51st Chief Justice on November 11. His tenure will prioritize reducing the Supreme Court’s case backlog, aiming for timely, fair justice. Despite challenges in the past, Khanna remains dedicated to upholding privacy and dignity in the judiciary.
New Delhi: Personal setbacks and achievements hold little significance for CJI-designate Sanjiv Khanna, whose family, nearly fifty years ago, calmly accepted the unceremonious supersession of his uncle, Justice H.R. Khanna.
Justice H.R. Khanna was a staunch defender of citizens’ rights, unyielding even in the face of the Union government’s power during the oppressive days of the Emergency. Sanjiv Khanna himself was appointed a judge of the Delhi High Court after a lengthy wait, with the government overlooking three previous recommendations from the collegium for his judgeship.
Justice H.R. Khanna, respected by many, indirectly indicated that he would not advocate for Sanjiv’s appointment. Integrity, dignity, and straightforwardness are deeply ingrained in the Khanna family.
When the President signed his appointment warrant in June 2005, Sanjiv Khanna was driving his Wagonr, just a few kilometers from his ancestral home in Dalhousie. While many would have hurried back to take the oath, Khanna, who values his privacy and family time, chose to pause. He parked on the side of the road, answered the call from Chief Justice B.C. Patel, and informed him that he would not change his plans to spend a few days with his wife and two children in Dalhousie. True to his commitment, he returned to Delhi after four to five days and took his oath on June 24, 2005.
After nearly two decades as a constitutional court judge, including six years on the Supreme Court, Justice Sanjiv Khanna will take oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India on November 11.
With a tenure of six months and three days, he acknowledges the time constraints for significant policy reform but is focused on tackling the court’s growing case backlog, which has surpassed 82,000. Justice Khanna’s primary goal is to establish a framework to reduce this pendency and expedite justice in the Supreme Court.
According to an SC source,
“In fact, the CJI-designate has already commenced the process, in consultation with colleagues, to improve the existing mechanism to decide cases pending for years.”
Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s first year as a judge on the Delhi High Court was a learning experience. Eager to reduce case backlog, he reserved judgments in over 100 cases a move that taught him the importance of delivering decisions as promptly as completing hearings.
Taking six months to clear the pending judgments, he has since ensured that no more than five judgments are left pending at a time. Reserved and media-shy, Justice Khanna recognizes the need to engage more with journalists but remains committed to preserving his privacy and the dignity of the judiciary.
In alignment with Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, he asserts,
“There can never be an occasion when anyone could dare approach me in a judicial matter.”
Justice Khanna, who was recommended by CJI Chandrachud as his successor, noted the increasing number of writ petitions and PILs coming to the Supreme Court, stressing that high courts, with wide powers under Article 226, should handle state-specific issues.
The Supreme Court, he suggests, should focus on nationwide matters, especially when urgent intervention is needed to avert substantial harm.