In a significant development, Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud has recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the Supreme Court’s most senior judge, as his successor. This announcement was made on Wednesday, following a letter from the central government last Friday requesting CJI Chandrachud to make a recommendation in line with the Memorandum of Procedure.
CJI Chandrachud is set to retire on November 10, completing a two-year tenure after taking office on December 17, 2022. He became the 50th Chief Justice of India, and upon his appointment, he paid tribute to the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at the Supreme Court. Notably, his father, YV Chandrachud, holds the record as the longest-serving CJI, having served from February 22, 1978, to July 11, 1985.
Who is Justice Sanjiv Khanna?
Justice Sanjiv Khanna is poised to assume office as the Chief Justice of India on November 10, 2024, and is expected to serve until May 13, 2025. Having been elevated to the Supreme Court in January 2019, Justice Khanna is the senior-most judge after the CJI and has had a distinguished judicial career. His appointment caused some controversy as he bypassed 33 senior judges in terms of both age and experience, although the matter was resolved within a few months.
A nephew of the esteemed Justice Hans Raj Khanna, who famously resigned during the Emergency in protest, Justice Khanna has made notable contributions during his tenure. Before joining the Supreme Court, he served as a judge in the Delhi High Court for 14 years and is recognized for his expertise in taxation and commercial law. Over the past two decades, he has authored numerous critical judgments.
Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna earned his law degree from Delhi University and began his legal practice in 1983. He initially worked in Delhi’s district courts before transitioning to the Delhi High Court and various tribunals, focusing on areas such as constitutional law, arbitration, direct taxes, company law, land laws, and environmental law.
