President Droupadi Murmu officially appointed Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Thursday. This appointment follows the recommendation made by the current CJI, D Y Chandrachud, on October 17. After an impactful two-year tenure, CJI Chandrachud is set to retire on November 10, paving the way for Justice Khanna to assume the role as the 51st CJI on November 11. Justice Khanna’s tenure will be relatively short, lasting six months until his retirement on May 13, 2025.

Background and Legal Lineage

Justice Khanna was elevated to the Supreme Court in January 2019. He comes from a distinguished legal lineage, being related to the esteemed judge Hans Raj Khanna, who resigned from his apex court judgeship during the emergency. Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Khanna served as a judge in the Delhi High Court for 14 years, starting in 2005. He is renowned for his expertise in taxation and commercial laws and has authored several significant judgments over the past two decades.

Key Judgments of Justice Khanna

Justice Khanna has been involved in several high-profile cases and has delivered notable judgments. Recently, his bench granted regular bail to AAP MP Sanjay Singh and interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Liquor scam. In April 2024, he authored a judgment dismissing a plea for 100% cross-verification of votes cast in electronic voting machines (EVMs) with Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT), emphasizing the sanctity of EVMs and trust in the Election Commission of India (ECI).

In March, Justice Khanna's bench rejected an application seeking a stay on laws regarding the appointment of election commissioners, citing the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and the lack of convenience in granting a stay. He also criticized the government for hurriedly appointing election commissioners. Additionally, Justice Khanna was part of the bench that struck down the constitutional validity of the electoral bonds scheme and upheld the abrogation of Article 370, among other notable judgments.

Justice Khanna's appointment as the Chief Justice of India marks a significant moment in the Indian judiciary, with expectations of continued impactful and significant judgments during his tenure.