Justice Khanna is set to become the 51st Chief Justice of India after the retirement of CJI Chandrachud on November 10, 2024, and will serve for a period of six months.
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has officially recommended Senior Supreme Court Judge Sanjiv Khanna to the Union Law Ministry as his successor. With CJI Chandrachud set to retire on November 10, 2024, Justice Khanna is expected to become the 51st Chief Justice of India. His tenure will be relatively short, lasting for six months, as he will retire on May 13, 2025, upon reaching the age of 65.
Profile of Justice Sanjiv Khanna
Justice Sanjiv Khanna began his legal career after enrolling as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. He initially practiced in the District Courts of Delhi before regularly appearing in the High Court and tribunals. His practice covered a wide range of legal fields, including constitutional law, commercial disputes, arbitration, company law, land laws, environmental regulations, and cases of medical negligence.
He also had experience in criminal law, having worked as an Additional Public Prosecutor in the Delhi High Court and served as amicus curiae in several cases. Justice Khanna’s association with the Income Tax Department as Senior Standing Counsel lasted for about seven years in the Delhi High Court. In 2004, he was appointed Standing Counsel (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
In 2005, Justice Khanna was elevated to the position of additional judge of the Delhi High Court, becoming a permanent judge a year later. During his tenure in the Delhi High Court, he contributed to institutions such as the Delhi Judicial Academy, the Delhi International Arbitration Centre, and district court mediation centres.
Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna earned his law degree from the Campus Law Centre at Delhi University.
Notable Judgments
Among his key rulings in the Supreme Court, Justice Khanna upheld the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) in elections, stating that they are secure and prevent fraudulent practices like booth capturing and bogus voting. He also delivered the interim bail order for Arvind Kejriwal, a decision praised for its clear reasoning.
Justice Khanna was part of a five-judge bench that declared the electoral bond scheme for political funding unconstitutional. Furthermore, he was involved in the landmark decision to uphold the government’s 2019 move to abrogate Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
A fellow legal professional who knew Justice Khanna before his appointment as a judge described him as “a very reasoned man” and praised his orders and judgments for being well thought out and logically sound.
