Chief Justice DY Chandrachud formally nominated Justice Sanjiv Khanna as his successor, signalling a key leadership change in the Supreme Court. This nomination comes ahead of Chief Justice Chandrachud’s retirement on November 11.
New Delhi: In a formal letter to the Union law ministry, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor.
This follows the tradition where the outgoing Chief Justice suggests a senior judge for the position, subject to approval by the Union government.
Justice Chandrachud, who took office as Chief Justice on November 9, 2022, will complete his tenure on November 11. As per the Constitution, Supreme Court judges retire upon reaching the age of 65.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna embarked on his legal journey in 1983 after enrolling as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi. He initially practiced at the district courts in Tis Hazari, later transitioning to the Delhi High Court and various tribunals. His career includes roles such as Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department and Standing Counsel for the National Capital Territory of Delhi starting in 2004.
Currently, Justice Khanna serves as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority and is a member of the Governing Council of the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal.
Throughout his career, Justice Khanna has held several key positions, including Chairman of the Delhi Judicial Academy and the Delhi International Arbitration Centre. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005 and became a permanent judge in 2006. In January 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court.
Justice Khanna made notable contributions to legal debates, particularly in cases concerning fundamental rights under the Indian Constitution. He was part of the bench that upheld the Central Vista Project and participated in constitutional benches that endorsed the abrogation of Article 370 and nullified the electoral bonds scheme.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna reinforced confidence in the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs) by rejecting requests for 100% cross-verification with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT). He emphasized his trust in India’s electoral system, underscoring that EVMs are dependable for conducting free and fair elections.
The Union government is expected to swiftly approve this nomination, ensuring a smooth transition in the leadership of the Supreme Court.
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