[BREAKING] Justice Sanjiv Khanna Takes Oath As 51st Chief Justice of India

Justice Sanjiv Khanna took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) Today (Nov 11). President of India Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Khanna at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Khanna will have a tenure of 183 days as CJI, which is just little over six months. He would retire on May 13, 2025.

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NEW DELHI: Justice Sanjiv Khanna sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday, marking a significant moment for the judiciary. The oath of office was administered by the President of India, Droupadi Murmu, at the prestigious Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Justice Khanna’s tenure as the Chief Justice will span 183 days, lasting just over six months, with his retirement set for May 13, 2025.

Starting his legal career in 1983, Justice Sanjiv Khanna has extensive experience across multiple domains, including taxation, constitutional law, arbitration, and commercial as well as environmental matters. His legal journey saw a key development in 2004, when he was appointed as the Standing Counsel (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi. The following year, in 2005, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court and, by 2006, he was made a permanent judge.

Justice Khanna’s elevation to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019, came as a surprising but notable advancement. Reflecting on this pivotal moment, Justice Khanna himself said, it was “a big surprise for him.”

Notably, Justice Khanna is the nephew of former Supreme Court judge Hans Raj Khanna, renowned for his iconic dissent in the ADM Jabalpur case—a case that is still celebrated for its stance on fundamental rights.

As a Supreme Court judge, Justice Sanjiv Khanna has made impactful contributions, especially in recent months. He was part of the Constitution Bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370, a key provision of the Indian Constitution related to Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

Justice Khanna also contributed to a historic decision last year by being part of the Constitution Bench that struck down the Electoral Bonds scheme, which had allowed anonymous donations to political parties, thereby promoting greater transparency in political funding.

In April, Justice Khanna, along with Justice Dipankar Datta, dismissed a petition that sought to tally all Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) slips with the votes cast through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) during elections, signaling confidence in the existing electoral process.

Prior to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a Bench led by Justice Khanna took a significant decision by refusing to stay the appointment of former bureaucrats Gyanesh Kumar and Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu as the new Election Commissioners, emphasizing the autonomy of appointments in the Election Commission.

Another prominent case led by Justice Khanna’s Bench occurred on July 12, when interim bail was granted to then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in connection with a money laundering case tied to the alleged Delhi excise policy scam. Similarly, his Bench also granted bail to Member of Parliament Sanjay Singh in the same case, reinforcing the judiciary’s stance on fair and unbiased decision-making.

In August, Justice Khanna raised important questions regarding a Mumbai college’s ban on wearing burqa, hijab, or niqab on campus, partly staying the notice issued by the institution and demonstrating the Court’s commitment to individual rights and freedoms.

Justice Khanna has also made his mark through his dissenting opinions. In 2021, he dissented from the majority decision in the Central Vista Project case, showcasing his readiness to stand by his principles in contentious cases.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s judicial journey reflects a profound commitment to justice, transparency, and constitutional values. As the Chief Justice of India, his legacy is sure to leave an enduring impact on Indian jurisprudence.

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