Mon Nov 11 18:13:46 UTC 2024: ## New Chief Justice of India Takes Oath, Emphasizes Equality and Accessibility

**New Delhi, November 11, 2024** – Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India on Monday, pledging to uphold the judiciary’s core principles of equal treatment and access to justice for all.

In his inaugural address, Chief Justice Khanna highlighted the judiciary’s constitutional duty to ensure accessible justice for all citizens. He emphasized the judiciary’s role as “constitutional guardian” and “protector of fundamental rights,” and its crucial responsibility as a service provider of justice.

“The judiciary is an integral, yet distinct and independent part of the governance system,” he stated. “The Constitution trusts upon us the role of constitutional guardian, protector of fundamental rights, and responsibility to fulfil the important task of being service provider of justice.”

Chief Justice Khanna outlined his priorities for his six-month tenure, focusing on making judgments more comprehensible to the public, promoting mediation, streamlining criminal case management, and reducing the duration of trials. He also highlighted the need for simplifying complex legal procedures and making litigation more affordable and accessible.

He recognized the significant challenges facing the judiciary, including case backlogs, but expressed his commitment to a “citizen-centric agenda,” where courts are approachable and user-friendly. Chief Justice Khanna also pledged to adopt a self-evaluative approach, receptive to feedback.

His tenure will see immediate challenges, including filling two vacancies on the Supreme Court and addressing important constitutional issues, such as the government’s use of Money Bills to pass legislation and the constitutional protection of religious practices.

The ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan was attended by President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, ministers, and former and current judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.

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