Mon Nov 11 15:46:27 UTC 2024: ## Justice Sanjiv Khanna Sworn in as India’s 51st Chief Justice

**New Delhi:** Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India on Monday, succeeding Justice D Y Chandrachud, who demitted office on Sunday. The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, administered by President Droupadi Murmu.

Justice Khanna, born on May 14, 1960, will hold the office for a little over six months, retiring on May 13, 2025, upon reaching the age of 65. He is a third-generation lawyer from an illustrious Delhi-based family, being the son of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Dev Raj Khanna and the nephew of prominent former Supreme Court judge H R Khanna.

Justice Khanna, who has served as a Supreme Court judge since January 2019, has been involved in several landmark judgments. These include upholding the sanctity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), scrapping the electoral bonds scheme, upholding the abrogation of Article 370, and granting interim bail to former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal.

Justice Khanna’s uncle, Justice H R Khanna, is known for his dissenting verdict in the infamous ADM Jabalpur case during the Emergency, which upheld the abrogation of fundamental rights. This dissenting judgment, deemed a landmark in upholding the rule of law, led to Justice Khanna’s supersession as Chief Justice.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna is driven by the zeal to reduce pendency and expedite justice delivery. He has served as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and has a long tenure as the senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department. He has also argued in a number of criminal cases at the Delhi High Court.

The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and former CJI J S Khehar, among others.

Read More