The Union Government has officially approved the appointment of Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI). Justice Khanna, currently serving as the first puisne judge at the Supreme Court, will take the helm on November 11, 2024, succeeding the incumbent CJI, DY Chandrachud, who is set to retire.
This appointment follows the established norms for such positions, with CJI Chandrachud recommending Justice Khanna’s name. The transition marks a significant moment for the Indian judiciary as Justice Khanna prepares to lead the nation’s highest court.
Justice Khanna will be sworn in on November 11, a day after Justice Chandrachud demits office upon reaching the age of 65. Justice Chandrachud took over as the CJI on November 8, 2022.
The news was announced by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, via X (formerly Twitter), confirming the government’s endorsement of Justice Khanna’s appointment. In a post, Meghwal stated, “In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, Hon’ble President, after consultation with Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court of India as Chief Justice of India with effect from 11th November, 2024.”
Justice Khanna’s tenure as CJI will be relatively short, spanning 183 days, just over six months. He is scheduled to retire on May 13, 2025.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna is the nephew of former Supreme Court judge Hans Raj Khanna, renowned for his dissenting opinion in the landmark ADM Jabalpur case. Khanna is also a former judge of the Delhi High Court, a position previously held by his father Dev Raj Khanna.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s appointment as the 51st Chief Justice of India follows the retirement of the current CJI, Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud. His experience and lineage within the judiciary make him a notable figure, and his tenure as CJI promises to be an important chapter in the history of the Indian Supreme Court.