Justice Sanjiv Khanna Recommended As Next CJI
Justice Sanjiv Khanna Recommended As Next CJI
Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has proposed Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s name as his successor, paving the way for a new era in India’s judicial landscape. In a letter to the Union Government, Justice Chandrachud recommended Justice Khanna’s name, citing his seniority and impressive judicial record.
Justice Chandrachud will retire on November 10, 2024, after completing his two-year tenure as the 50th Chief Justice of India. If approved, Justice Khanna will become the 51st Chief Justice of India, serving a term of nearly seven months until May 13, 2025.
Who is Justice Sanjiv Khanna?
Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna comes from an illustrious family of lawyers. His uncle, Justice Hans Raj Khanna, was a renowned judge who delivered the lone dissenting judgment in the historic “Habeas Corpus case” in 1976. Justice Khanna studied law at the Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, and enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983.
As a Supreme Court judge, Justice Khanna has delivered several landmark verdicts. He was part of the five-judge Constitution Bench that struck down the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional. Justice Khanna also upheld the validity of the abrogation of Article 370, stating that it was a feature of asymmetric federalism, not an indication of sovereignty.
In another significant judgment, Justice Khanna authored the majority opinion, granting the Supreme Court the power to directly grant divorce under Article 142 of the Constitution. He also held that judicial independence does not necessarily oppose the right to information.
With his impressive track record and extensive experience, Justice Sanjiv Khanna is poised to lead the Indian judiciary as the 51st Chief Justice of India. His tenure promises to be significant, with key cases and judicial decisions awaiting his guidance.
