Justice Khanna became the 51st CJI, President Murmu administered the oath of office
Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. President Draupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Khanna. He replaced outgoing CJI DY Chandrachud. Justice Chandrachud retired.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other dignitaries. Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal and Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinay Kumar Saxena congratulated Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna. Outgoing CJI DY attended the swearing-in ceremony.
At the age of 64, Justice Khanna will complete a six-month term as the Chief Justice of India and is expected to retire on May 13, 2025. Justice Khanna is the son of former Delhi High Court judge Justice Dev Raj Khanna and nephew of former Supreme Court judge H.R. Khanna.
He has been part of several landmark judgements, including upholding the sanctity of electronic voting machines (EVMs), declaring the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional, supporting the scrapping of Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, and granting interim bail to former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.
The Centre issued an official notification on October 24 appointing Justice Khanna following a recommendation by outgoing Chief Justice Chandrachud on October 16. Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna enrolled as an advocate with the Delhi Bar Council in 1983.
He initially practised in the district courts at the Tis Hazari complex, later moving to the Delhi High Court and tribunals. He served for a long time as senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department. In 2004, he was appointed Standing Advocate (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
He was elevated as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005 and became a permanent judge in 2006. Justice Khanna was elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019.
