Justice Sanjiv Khanna will assume office on November 11, 2024, succeeding CJI DY Chandrachud.
In a significant development, the Union Government has announced the appointment of Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI).
Arjun Ram Meghwal, Union Minister for Law & Justice, confirmed that the President had approved the appointment, with Justice Khanna set to assume office on November 11, 2024.
Justice Khanna will serve a tenure of nearly seven months until May 13, 2025, following the recommendation by outgoing CJI DY Chandrachud.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s Judicial Career
Elevated to the Supreme Court from the Delhi High Court in January 2019, Justice Khanna has contributed to several landmark judgments.
Notably, in 2019, he authored the lead judgment for the Constitution Bench, affirming that the Right to Information (RTI) Act applies to the office of the Chief Justice of India.
His stance in Amish Devgan v. Union of India also emphasized the regulation of hate speech.
Furthermore, in 2021, he dissented in the Central Vista case, arguing that proper procedures were not followed.
Key Judgments and Political Matters
Justice Khanna’s bench has handled politically sensitive cases, including those involving Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh in the Delhi liquor policy case.
His decisions on bail applications have had significant implications, such as allowing interim bail for Kejriwal during election campaigning and tackling issues within the PMLA.
Constitutional Bench Contributions
Justice Khanna has also been part of notable Constitutional Bench decisions, including those related to Article 370 and Electoral Bonds.
In the Electoral Bonds case, he issued a separate opinion criticizing the scheme’s violation of Constitutional rights, further solidifying his influence in judicial matters.
