Justice Sanjiv Khanna Takes Oath As India’s 51St Chief Justice

Justice Sanjiv Khanna has been sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI), following the tenure of Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.The oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Khanna's term will last until May 13, 2025.

Justice Khanna's appointment marks a significant chapter in Indian judiciary, with notable contributions in landmark rulings during his tenure. Elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019, from the Delhi High Court, Justice Khanna has participated in several high-profile cases shaping the country’s legal landscape.

In April 2019, Justice Khanna was part of the bench that took suo motu cognizance of media reports concerning sexual harassment allegations against then CJI Ranjan Gogoi. He also authored a significant judgment affirming that the Right to Information (RTI) Act applies to the office of the CJI, enhancing transparency within the judiciary.

Justice Khanna's commitment to constitutional principles was evident in his dissent regarding the Central Vista project in 2021, where he held that due processes were not followed. His judgment in Amish Devgan v. Union of India underscored the need to regulate hate speech, adding depth to India’s legal discourse on freedom of speech.

Further, in 2023, Justice Khanna delivered a groundbreaking decision allowing the Supreme Court to dissolve marriages on grounds of "irretrievable breakdown," leveraging Article 142 of the Constitution.

Among his other notable rulings, Justice Khanna played a crucial role in the Electoral Bonds case, issuing a separate opinion cautioning against the scheme’s impact on constitutional rights. In his judgment regarding EVM-VVPAT verification, while he declined a plea for 100% VVPAT verification, he recommended additional safeguards to strengthen election transparency.

His recent decisions include granting interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for election campaigning and later in July 2024, referring the matter to a larger bench to address the need for further grounds of arrest under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Justice Khanna’s tenure as CJI is anticipated to leave a lasting impact on the judiciary through his judicial philosophy and dedication to democratic values.