Sanjiv Khanna becomes 51st Chief Justice
Justice Sanjiv Khanna has been appointed as the new Chief Justice of India (CJI). He was sworn in by President Droupadi Murmu in a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Khanna becomes the 51st CJI of the country, and his tenure will last until May 13, 2025, for about 6 months.
Sanjiv Khanna becomes 51st Chief Justice
Justice Khanna has been a part of several landmark judgments, including decisions on the Electoral Bonds scheme and the abrogation of Article 370. He completed his education at Delhi’s Modern School and St. Stephen’s College, followed by a law degree from the University of Delhi. He began his legal career in 1983 at the Tis Hazari Courts in Delhi. In 2005, he was appointed as a judge of the Delhi High Court, and in January 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court.
Sanjiv Khanna becomes 51st Chief Justice
Justice Khanna is known for his expertise in criminal, civil, tax, and constitutional law. He hails from a distinguished legal family. His father, Dev Raj Khanna, was a judge at the Delhi High Court, and his uncle, Justice Hans Raj Khanna, was one of the most respected judges in India.
Sanjiv Khanna becomes 51st Chief Justice
Justice Hans Raj Khanna is remembered for his historic judgment during the Emergency of 1976, where he stood against the government and affirmed that the fundamental rights of citizens, including personal liberty, cannot be suspended even during an Emergency. This decision led to his exclusion from becoming the Chief Justice of India, as then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi appointed a junior judge instead. Justice Hans Raj Khanna later resigned from his position.
Sanjiv Khanna becomes 51st Chief Justice
During his tenure at the Supreme Court, Justice Sanjiv Khanna has delivered several significant rulings. He granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal during the Lok Sabha election campaign. He also stated that the stringent provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cannot be used to justify keeping someone in jail for an extended period without a trial, as he granted bail to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia.
Sanjiv Khanna becomes 51st Chief Justice
In April 2024, during the Lok Sabha elections, Justice Khanna dismissed a petition for 100% matching of VVPAT (Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail) with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in the vote count. However, he allowed candidates to request a re-examination of the results within seven days, with the cost of examining the microcontroller memory to be borne by the candidates.
Sanjiv Khanna becomes 51st Chief Justice
Justice Khanna was also a member of the bench that declared the Electoral Bonds scheme unconstitutional. Additionally, he ruled that if a marriage becomes irretrievably broken, the Supreme Court can directly exercise its special powers to grant a divorce. He also decided that the office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) falls under the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act.
