Justice Sanjiv Khanna took the oath of office as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday. The oath was administered by President Droupadi Murmu in a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and former CJI D Y Chandrachud.
Justice Khanna succeeds Justice D Y Chandrachud, who retired from the Supreme Court on November 10. In his farewell address, Justice Chandrachud expressed confidence in Justice Khanna’s leadership, calling him “dignified, stable, and deeply committed to justice.”
Justice Khanna’s name was recommended by Justice Chandrachud on October 17, and the Centre formally announced his appointment on October 24. Justice Khanna will serve as CJI for just over six months, retiring on May 1, 2025.