Mon Nov 11 16:36:27 UTC 2024: ## India’s New Chief Justice Faces Busy Tenure with Key Cases Awaiting

**New Delhi:** Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who assumed office as India’s 51st Chief Justice on September 1, 2023, faces a packed agenda with several crucial cases awaiting his attention.

Justice Khanna, known for his significant role in landmark rulings like the abrogation of Article 370 and the electoral bond scheme, is expected to preside over a six-month tenure marked by high-profile legal challenges.

Among the most pressing issues are the constitutionality of the sedition law and the marital rape exception in criminal law. The court is also poised to review the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, with a national task force set to deliver recommendations on security protocols for healthcare workers.

Justice Khanna’s legal career spans over four decades, including a distinguished tenure at the Delhi High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court in 2019. His notable judgments include dissenting against the Central Vista project and advocating for the use of Article 142 for divorce cases based on irretrievable breakdown of marriage.

In 2024, Justice Khanna was at the helm of benches addressing crucial matters relating to elections, bail, and personal liberty, including the verification of votes through VVPAT and the bail applications of prominent politicians in the liquor policy case.

His tenure as Chief Justice is anticipated to be characterized by a steady stream of politically sensitive cases, including challenges to the Election Commission Appointments Act, the validity of the Bihar caste census, and the application of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in matters related to arrest.

With a wealth of experience and a reputation for decisive judgment, Justice Khanna is poised to lead the Supreme Court through a period of significant legal and social developments.

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