New Delhi, November 11 (UITV) – Justice Sanjiv Khanna took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of the country, making today an important day in the history of Indian judiciary, as today the country has got a new Chief Justice (CJI). He was administered the oath of office and secrecy as the 51st CJI by President Draupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Sanjiv Khanna replaced Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who retired on Sunday.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s tenure will last till May 13, 2025. Born in Delhi in 1960, Justice Khanna did his early education from the prestigious Modern School of Delhi and then studied law from the Campus Law Center (CLC) of the Faculty of Law of Delhi University. His family is also associated with the judicial field. His father Justice Des Raj Khanna was a judge of the Delhi High Court and his mother Mrs. Saroj Khanna was a Hindi lecturer at Lady Shri Ram College of Delhi University.
Justice Khanna’s judicial career spans more than four decades. He registered as a lawyer with the Delhi Bar Council in 1983 and then practised in the Tis Hazari district courts of Delhi. In 2004, he was appointed as a permanent advocate for Delhi. Subsequently, in 2005, he became an additional judge of the Delhi High Court and was appointed as a permanent judge in 2006.
Justice Khanna was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court in January 2019. During his tenure in the Supreme Court, he gave many historic and important judgments. He not only showed deep understanding and accuracy in judicial matters, but his analytical thinking and impartiality made him a distinguished judge.
During Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s tenure in the Supreme Court, many important decisions were taken, some of which are considered historic for the country. These include decisions like ending the electoral bond scheme, maintaining the credibility of EVMs, removal of Article 370 and granting interim bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
He had given the decision to abolish the electoral bond scheme in 2019, which took an important step towards controlling the influence of money in elections. Apart from this, he also played an important role in the matter of removal of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, which was a big decision for the constitution and politics of the country.
Justice Khanna also showed sensitivity and judicial discretion in the decision to grant interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for campaigning during the Lok Sabha elections.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s family is associated with judicial tradition. His father Justice Des Raj Khanna was a judge of the Delhi High Court, while his uncle, Justice HR Khanna, has been a famous judge of the Supreme Court. Justice Khanna has always emphasized on the independence of the judiciary and speeding up the delivery of justice. He has been in favor of reducing the number of pending cases and expediting decisions.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna has always emphasized the effectiveness and transparency of the judiciary in his career. He believes that the court should show promptness and dedication in providing justice, so that the general public’s faith in the judiciary remains. His contributions and decisions have helped make the functioning of the Supreme Court more dynamic and effective.
His tenure is starting at a challenging time, when pressure on India’s judicial system is increasing and expectations of transparency and justice from the judiciary are high. Under the leadership of Justice Khanna, the judicial process of the Supreme Court is expected to improve, which will not only increase the effectiveness of the judiciary but will also make access to justice easier for the general public.
The selection of Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the Chief Justice today is the beginning of a new era for the Indian judiciary. His tenure is taking place at a time when the judicial system needs new direction and reform. Looking at the important decisions made by him and the spirit of justice, it can be said that he will play an important role in enhancing the independence and effectiveness of the judiciary in this position.
