Justice Sanjiv Khanna Takes Oath As 51st Chief Justice of India

Justice Sanjiv Khanna has officially assumed office as the Chief Justice of India, succeeding Justice DY Chandrachud. He is the 51st Chief Justice of India.

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President of India Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to Justice Khanna at a swearing-in ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He will have a nearly seven-month term till May 13, 2025.

Justice Khanna was elevated to the Supreme Court from the Delhi High Court on January 18, 2019.

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Notable judgments of Justice Khanna

Justice Khanna was part of the bench that took suo motu cognizance of the media reports making sexual harassment allegations against the then CJI Ranjan Gogoi in April 2019.

In 2019, Justice Khanna wrote the lead judgment on behalf of the Constitution Bench which held that the RTI Act is applicable to the office of the CJI. Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s judgment in Amish Devgan v. Union of India is notable for emphasizing the need to regulate hate speeches.

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In 2021, Justice Sanjiv Khanna dissented from the 2-judge majority to hold that requisite processes were not followed for the Central Vista project. Justice Khanna wrote the judgment on behalf of the Constitution Bench which held that irretrievable breakdown can be a ground for the Supreme Court to dissolve marriage invoking powers under Article 142 of the Constitution.

#indtoday | Justice #SanjivKhanna has officially assumed office as the #ChiefJusticeofIndia, succeeding Justice DY Chandrachud. He is the 51st Chief Justice of India.#CJI #oathtaking #presidentofindia #droupadimurmu #delhi #DelhiNews pic.twitter.com/t4ACMfj1RR

— indtoday (@ind2day) November 11, 2024

Justice Khanna dealt with the politically sensitive matters regarding the bail applications of Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh in the Delhi liquor policy case. In 2023, his bench refused bail to Manish Sisodia but directed that the trial should be completed expeditiously. In the Sanjay Singh case, ED conceded the grant of bail after facing certain questions from Justice Khanna’s bench.

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In May this year, in a one-of-its-first-kind order, Justice Khanna’s bench allowed interim bail to the then Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal for the purposes of election campaigning. In July, Justice Khanna’s bench granted interim bail to Kejriwal referring the matter to a larger bench to examine the need to include further grounds for arrest under the PMLA to prevent abuse of the law.

Justice Khanna’s bench also dealt with the EVM-VVPAT matter. While refusing a plea for 100% VVPAT verification, the judgment directed the ECI to introduce further safeguards.

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He was also part of the Constitution Bench decisions in Article 370 and Electoral Bonds cases. In the Electoral Bonds matter, he penned a separate but concurring opinion detailing how the anonymous scheme violated Constitutional rights.

Justice Khanna also served as the Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department. In 2004, he was appointed Standing Counsel (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi.

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Justice Khanna was appointed an additional judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005 and became a permanent judge in 2006, marking the beginning of his significant judicial career.

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