Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st CJI in a brief ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on November 11, 2024. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to Justice Khanna, who was at the forefront of the Indian judiciary. He succeeded Justice DY Chandrachud, who demitted office after completing his tenure as CJI.
Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and other Union Cabinet ministers attended the ceremony. Additionally, their presence highlighted the importance of the event.
In all, legal luminaries, government officials, and retired judges such as former Chief Justices graced the occasion. Their presence underlined the respect and tradition associated with the office of the CJI.
Justice Khanna was born on May 14, 1960. Justice Khanna had a long, brilliant legal career at the Delhi High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court. He was part of many landmark decisions, such as upholding the abrogation of Article 370 or striking down the electoral bonds scheme. His areas of expertise are constitutional law, taxation, arbitration, commercial law, and environmental law. He was senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.
In the oath-taking ceremony, Justice Khanna promised to uphold the Constitution of India and discharge his duties without fear or favor. His swearing-in marks the start of his six-month tenure as Chief Justice. The Ministry of Law and Justice had issued formal notification of his appointment, made by the President under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.
Justice DY Chandrachud broke into emotional overtones as he bade adieu on the eve of his retirement. While reflecting upon the journey in the Supreme Court as the 50th CJI. Justice Chandrachud spoke of service to the country with great honor and of how he evolved during this period. He said he was grateful for the opportunity to serve and emphasized justice to be extended to serve the needy.
The appointment of Justice Khanna will be a milestone for India’s judiciary. And his decisions will also mark the future development of the Indian courts.
ANI