Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday, succeeding Justice DY Chandrachud, who retired from the post. The oath was administered by President Droupadi Murmu in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, and other dignitaries.
Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna hails from a family with a strong legal background. He pursued his law degree at the Campus Law Centre of Delhi University and went on to build a respected legal career. Prior to his appointment to the Supreme Court in January 2019, he served as a judge at the Delhi High Court and held the position of executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), contributing to the organization’s mission of providing free legal aid.
During his tenure as a Supreme Court judge, Justice Khanna presided over multiple high-profile and politically sensitive cases. One notable contribution was handling the bail applications of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in the controversial liquor policy case. In a unique decision in May, Justice Khanna’s bench granted interim bail to Kejriwal, allowing him to campaign during the Lok Sabha elections, and referred the matter to a larger bench for further examination. In July, the bench granted further interim bail, emphasizing the need for clearer arrest provisions under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to curb misuse.
Justice Khanna also made key contributions as part of the Constitution Bench on landmark cases, including the revocation of Article 370, which impacted Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and the contentious electoral bonds case. His bench has also dealt with significant cases concerning the transparency and security of electronic voting machines (EVMs) and Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs), addressing concerns over the credibility of the election process.
Justice Khanna’s approach to cases has been marked by his commitment to fair and balanced judgments, reinforcing his reputation as a judge dedicated to upholding justice and addressing pressing legal concerns. His tenure as Chief Justice is expected to focus on a range of important legal issues, further shaping the Indian judiciary.
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