Justice Sanjiv Khanna, a distinguished Supreme Court judge, has been recommended by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud as his successor. He is set to assume office as the 51st Chief Justice of India on November 10, 2024, serving a tenure of six months until May 13, 2025, just a day before his 65th birthday.
Justice Khanna has been part of several significant judgments during his tenure at the Supreme Court. He was a member of the Constitution Bench involved in high-profile cases, including the controversial Electoral Bond Scheme, the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal’s bail case.
Background and Education
Born on May 14, 1960, to a family of legal luminaries, Justice Sanjiv Khanna is the son of Delhi High Court judge Justice Devraj Khanna and the nephew of former Supreme Court judge Hansraj Khanna. He completed his schooling at Modern School, Barakhamba Road, in Delhi and later pursued his law degree at Delhi University’s Campus Law Center.
Justice Hansraj Khanna, a figure of great repute, delivered the dissenting judgment in the landmark “Habeas Corpus case” (Additional District Magistrate, Jabalpur vs Shivkant Shukla) in 1976, which became a defining moment in Indian constitutional history.
Before he was appointed a Supreme Court judge, Justice Khanna served as a judge at the Delhi High Court, where he was known for his expertise in various fields, including constitutional law, commercial law, and environmental law. His legal career began in 1983 when he enrolled as an advocate with the Delhi Bar Council, later practicing in the District Court and Delhi High Court.
In 2004, he was appointed as Standing Counsel for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. In 2005, he became an Additional Judge at the Delhi High Court and was made a permanent judge the following year.
Supreme Court Tenure and Leadership Roles
Justice Khanna was elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019. His first day at the apex court was marked by a symbolic moment when he began his work in the same courtroom from where his uncle, Justice Hansraj Khanna, had retired.
During his time at the Supreme Court, he has held prominent positions, including Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee and Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority. He is also a member of the Governing Council of the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s elevation to the position of Chief Justice of India marks a significant moment in his illustrious legal career. As per seniority rules, he will serve as the CJI for six months, overseeing the top judicial matters of the country until his retirement.