Mon Nov 11 18:39:17 UTC 2024: ## New Chief Justice of India Sworn In: Justice Sanjiv Khanna Takes Helm

**New Delhi, November 13, 2023:** Justice Sanjiv Khanna, a veteran Supreme Court judge, was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India on Monday by President Draupadi Murmu in a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The ceremony was attended by dignitaries including Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several other government officials, judges, and legal luminaries.

Justice Khanna, known for his strong stance on upholding personal liberty and advocating for judicial independence, immediately assumed his duties, presiding over 47 cases in the Supreme Court’s Court One. He inherits a challenging position, with a large backlog of cases, increasing reliance on technology in court proceedings, and the responsibility of timely judicial appointments.

The new Chief Justice’s six-month tenure will see him face critical issues including the government’s use of the Money Bill route to pass contentious amendments, the pending reference on essential religious practices, and the allocation of sensitive cases to individual benches. His decisions in these areas will be closely watched by legal experts and the public alike.

Justice Khanna’s career has been marked by notable judgements. He delivered the verdict allowing the use of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) while declining to revive paper ballots, emphasizing the need for balance and criticizing blind trust in institutions. He also granted interim bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, highlighting personal liberty as a sacrosanct right.

Before his elevation to the Supreme Court in 2019, Justice Khanna served as a judge in the Delhi High Court, where he gained experience across various fields, including constitutional, taxation, and environmental law.

His appointment as Chief Justice comes at a crucial juncture for the Indian judiciary. The next six months will test his leadership skills and judicial philosophy as he navigates the complex challenges facing the Supreme Court.

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