Justice Sanjiv Khanna sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India

Justice Sanjiv Khanna sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India

Justice Sanjiv Khanna took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on November 11, 2024, at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan chaired by President Droupadi Murmu. Justice Khanna’s predecessor, Justice D Y Chandrachud, recommended him for this role. Justice Khanna will serve as CJI till May 13, 2025.

Justice Khanna began his career of over four decades in 1983 as a practising lawyer in the Delhi High Court. Twenty-three years’ later, he was promoted to Additional Judge in 2005 and was subsequently made a Permanent Judge in February 2006. An expert in company law, commercial law, environmental law and medical negligence, he also served as Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department, and was appointed Standing Counsel for the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in 2004.

Justice Khanna was advanced to the Supreme Court in January 20119 and has authored more than 149 judgments and been part of more than 450 benches ever since. He has passed crucial decrees on the Court’s discretionary powers, electoral independence and personal liberty. Earlier this year, he headed a bench that defended the Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) system while declining a plea for 100% VVPAT verification and delivered orders to augment safeguards in vote counting. His participation in important cases related to Article 370 and the Electoral Bond Scheme has been influential. Justice Khanna delivered a concurring opinion on the Electoral Bonds scheme, stressing on the constitutional concerns over anonymous donations.

Justice Khanna’s term as CJI begins amid a considerable backlog of more than 82,000 pending cases. Cases related to the process of appointing members to the Election Commission of India (ECI), Bihar caste census, marital rape exception and those challenging the constitutionality of sedition laws are on Justice Khanna’s docket. He is also expected to handle grave Constitution Bench cases on subjects such as the Sabarimala review and the Speaker’s role in disqualification proceedings.

A technologically advanced Supreme Court awaits Justice Khanna as he takes over from his forerunner, CJI D Y Chandrachud, who retired on November 10. Equipped with e-filing systems, live streaming of courtroom proceedings which was recently introduced, and an online pass for court access, the Supreme Court heralds a newfangled epoch of judicial ease of access and transparency. Justice Khanna’s direction is expected to guide the Court through substantial legal challenges during his ephemeral yet efficacious term.