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

Supreme Court judge Justice Sanjiv Khanna took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India today (November 11). Justice Khanna succeeds Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who retired on November 10, and his term will last until May 13 next year.

Justice Khanna was sworn into office by President Droupadi Murmu in a ceremony attended by several high-ranking officials, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, and former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, among other dignitaries.

The Centre officially notified Justice Khanna’s appointment on October 24, following Chief Justice Chandrachud’s recommendation on October 16. On his last working day as CJI on November 8, Justice Chandrachud was given a rousing farewell by judges, lawyers and staff of the apex court and the high courts.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, born on May 14, 1960, pursued his law degree at Delhi University's Campus Law Centre. A third-generation lawyer, he was appointed as a judge at the Delhi High Court and later served as the executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). Elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019, Justice Khanna is committed to reducing case backlogs and enhancing the efficiency of the justice system.

Since his appointment to the Supreme Court in January 2019, Justice Khanna has contributed to a number of notable rulings. His judgments have included affirming the reliability of electronic voting machines (EVMs), overturning the electoral bonds scheme, supporting the revocation of Article 370, and granting interim bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

Justice Khanna comes from a distinguished family in Delhi. His father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna, served as a judge in the Delhi High Court, while his uncle, Justice H.R. Khanna, was a notable judge in the Supreme Court.