Justice Sanjiv Khanna recommended as 51st Chief Justice of India, set to take office on November 10

Justice Sanjiv Khanna has been recommended by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud to succeed him as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI). He is set to take office on November 10, 2024, and will serve until May 13, 2025, a day before his 65th birthday. This appointment reflects the customary practice of the outgoing Chief Justice recommending his successor, and if approved by the Union Government, it will pave the way for Justice Khanna to take on this pivotal role in the Indian judiciary.

Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna hails from a distinguished legal family. His father, Justice Devraj Khanna, served on the Delhi High Court, while his uncle, Justice Hansraj Khanna, is renowned for his dissenting judgment in the landmark "Habeas Corpus case" (ADM, Jabalpur vs. Shivkant Shukla) of 1976. Justice Khanna completed his schooling at Modern School, Barakhamba Road, and graduated with a law degree from the University of Delhi’s Campus Law Center in 1983.

Justice Khanna began his legal career in the District Court at Delhi's Tis Hazari Complex, initially practicing in diverse fields such as constitutional law, direct taxation, and arbitration. He served as Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department and was involved in significant cases as Additional Public Prosecutor and Amicus Curiae in various criminal matters. In 2005, he was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court and became a permanent judge the following year.

On January 18, 2019, Justice Khanna was elevated to the Supreme Court. His tenure has been marked by involvement in several landmark cases that have shaped Indian law and policy. He was part of the Constitution Bench that adjudicated significant issues, including the repeal of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and the Electoral Bond Scheme, which has been a subject of controversy regarding electoral transparency. Notably, in 2024, he led a Division Bench that dismissed a plea for 100% VVPAT verification of votes cast on Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), emphasizing the Election Commission's existing safeguards for free and fair elections.

In addition to his judicial responsibilities, Justice Khanna has held prominent roles within the judiciary, including Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee from June 2023 to December 2023. He currently serves as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority and is a member of the Governing Council of the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal.

As he prepares to assume the role of CJI, Justice Khanna’s extensive experience and legal acumen position him to address the challenges facing the judiciary, including issues of judicial accountability, access to justice, and the need for reforms in legal processes.