CJI Chandrachud Nominates Justice Sanjiv Khanna as Successor

Justice Sanjiv Khanna is set to become the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI), following the recommendation by current CJI DY Chandrachud in a letter to the Union law ministry. Justice Khanna, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, will take over the position after Justice Chandrachud’s retirement on November 10, 2024.

Key Points on Appointment

CJI Recommendation 

• Chief Justice DY Chandrachud recommended Justice Khanna as his successor to the Union law ministry, following established convention.

Tenure

• Justice Khanna will serve as the CJI for a six-month period before retiring on May 13, 2025.

Career Start

• Justice Sanjiv Khanna enrolled as an advocate in 1983 and practiced at Delhi’s Tis Hazari complex before moving to the High Court of Delhi.

Key Roles

• Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department
• Standing Counsel (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi (2004)
• Additional Public Prosecutor at the Delhi High Court

Judicial Appointments

• Became an additional judge at the Delhi High Court in 2005, later elevated to permanent judge in 2006.
• Elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019, bypassing the customary position of Chief Justice of a High Court.

Current Roles

• Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority
• Governing Council Member of the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal

Notable Cases

• Part of the bench that cleared the Central Vista Project.
• Played a key role in Constitutional bench decisions on the abrogation of Article 370 and the electoral bonds scheme.
• Ruled on a significant case about free speech, asserting that Article 19(1)(a) cannot override the right to life and personal liberty under Article 21.