Justice B R Gavai, who will take charge as CJI on May 14, praised Justice Khanna for embracing his family’s legacy and building his own.
New Delhi – On his last day as the Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice Sanjiv Khanna was honoured with warm tributes, touching speeches, and deep admiration from colleagues, bar members, and senior lawyers.
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At a ceremonial bench held at the Supreme Court on Tuesday, the outgoing CJI reflected on his journey, expressing gratitude for the memories and confidence in his successor, Justice B R Gavai.
Justice Khanna thanked everyone who supported him during his time in the judiciary and expressed his trust in the next Chief Justice of India, Justice B R Gavai.
He said:
“What to say about justice and CJI designate B R Gavai, we got elevated the same year. Here we are in the collegium, and thereafter, we have interacted on several occasions. And I must say, he has been my biggest support. And I am sure that you have in Justice Gavai an excellent chief justice who’s going to uphold the institution and who’s going to uphold the fundamental rights who’s going to uphold our basic doctrines which we have adopted and applied.”
Justice Khanna continued his farewell speech with heartfelt emotions, recalling his time at the court with fondness:
“I am overwhelmed.”
“I carry with me a lot of memories. Memories that are very nice and will remain with me throughout my life.”
He emphasised the strong bond between the bar and the bench and their joint role in maintaining public trust:
“The judiciary is not just judges; it includes the bar. You are the conscious keepers of the system.”
Justice Khanna appreciated the Supreme Court’s diversity and how judges from different regions and backgrounds helped in making better decisions:
“Another thing is the biggest plus factor in this court. We have judges from different parts of the country, and they with different thought processes, different backgrounds, they are able to when we discuss, we are able to find a lot of solutions. We were able to find out the right path.”
Justice B R Gavai, who will take charge as CJI on May 14, praised Justice Khanna for embracing his family’s legacy and building his own.
He called the farewell a “transition” rather than an end:
“What ends today is not a career, but the beginning of another.”
He remembered how Justice Khanna carried forward the legacy of his uncle, Justice H R Khanna, known for his famous dissent in the 1976 ADM Jabalpur case during the Emergency.
Justice Gavai said:
“To walk in the shadow of such a name is no small task, but Justice Sanjiv Khanna did more than uphold that legacy he made it his own.”
He admired Justice Khanna’s qualities:
“simple, elegant, and imbued with constitutional values, It has been a privilege and I extend my heartfelt gratitude.”
Justice Sanjay Kumar, who shared the bench with Justice Khanna for over 10 months, provided insights into Justice Khanna’s working style and memory:
“He doesn’t make notes. Everything: page numbers, paragraph numbers, contents come from memory.”
He appreciated Justice Khanna’s calm and patient behaviour with lawyers:
“Even when advocates came unprepared, he never lost his temper. Instead, he gently urged them to come prepared next time.”
He praised the former CJI’s focused and clear approach:
“He approached every problem, whether judicial or administrative, with sincere intent and relentless commitment.”
Justice Kumar also spoke about how Justice Khanna influenced his way of thinking:
“Sitting with him, I learned that I also had to inculcate pragmatism into that perspective.”
Recalling a specific situation, he said:
“I would have perhaps kept it pending. This was a procedural matter, and I was to write the judgment. When I discussed it with him, he pointed out that if I kept it pending, cases all over the country would just pile up, and that was not a good situation.”
Attorney General R Venkataramani paid rich tribute to Justice Khanna, comparing his judicial style to a calm river:
“Your lordship leaves a void not easily filled. Like a river flowing quietly, you accomplished much with grace.”
He also praised his judgments for their clear reasoning and moral strength:
“impeccable logic, simplicity, and elegance”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta acknowledged Justice Khanna’s ability to enlighten the bar even in defeat:
“Even if litigants lost, we lawyers felt enriched. We always left with a new insight,“as your verdicts were crisp, clear, and always enlightening.”
He pointed out that Justice Khanna’s judgments were precise and never academic in nature:
“your verdicts were crisp, clear, and always enlightening.”
Senior lawyer and Supreme Court Bar Association president Kapil Sibal compared the departure of CJI Khanna to that of cricket legend Virat Kohli:
“You are the streak across the sky that is never forgotten.”
Calling him a symbol of judicial excellence, Sibal said:
“a beacon of light, Your intuitive sense of justice, your transparency, and your encouragement to young lawyers will not be forgotten. You’ve set a standard for generations to come.”
He linked Justice Khanna’s values to those of his uncle, Justice H R Khanna:
“Today, that dissent echoes louder than the forgotten majority. And you, Justice Khanna, have carried that flame forward.”
Another senior lawyer echoed the bar’s deep respect:
“You may be retiring from the bench, but your service to the Constitution is far from over.”
Justice Sanjiv Khanna became the 51st Chief Justice of India on November 11, 2024, and served till May 13, 2025. Though his tenure was brief, it was impactful and filled with key judicial reforms, landmark decisions, and unwavering dedication to constitutional morality, transparency, and judicial accountability.
