Sanjiv Khanna Sworn in as Chief Justice of India: Know about his background and important judgements
Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India on Monday at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office, with Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and other dignitaries in attendance.
Justice Khanna takes over from former Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, who retired on Sunday, and will serve a six-month term as Chief Justice, retiring on May 13, 2024.
Early Life and Legal Background
Born in Delhi, Justice Sanjiv Khanna received his education from Modern School Barakhamba and then studied at St. Stephen’s College. He obtained a law degree from Delhi University in 1983. His family has a legal tradition – his father Justice Dev Raj Khanna was a judge in the Delhi High Court, while his uncle Justice Hansraj Khanna delivered a landmark minority judgment to protect fundamental rights during the Emergency.
Justice Khanna practised in the Delhi High Court for nearly 23 years. He was appointed an additional judge in the Delhi High Court in 2005, and became a permanent judge in 2006. In 2019, he was appointed to the Supreme Court, beginning his journey to become the Chief Justice.
Notable Judgments and Contributions
Justice Sanjiv Khanna has delivered several important judgments in the Indian judiciary, including:
- Right to Information (RTI): Justice Khanna supported the application of the RTI Act to the office of the Chief Justice, thereby promoting transparency and accountability.
- Article 370: He was part of the bench that supported the scrapping of Article 370 that ended the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
- Electoral Bond Scheme: Justice Khanna opposed the Electoral Bond Scheme, stressing the importance of transparency in political funding.
- Central Vista Project: He showed his commitment to judicial processes in his dissenting judgment on the Central Vista redevelopment.
During 2024, Justice Khanna had an impact on several important cases, including issues of transparency of the electoral process, bail matters, and personal liberty. These include his judgments on VVPAT vote verification and political cases involving Aam Aadmi Party leaders Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Sanjay Singh.
Upcoming Challenges and Important Cases for CJI Sanjiv Khanna
Sanjeev Khanna has been sworn in as the Chief Justice of India, and he has several important cases before him:
- Marital Rape Exception: This case challenges the current provision on marital rape in criminal law.
- Health Safety: After the case of murder of a doctor in Kolkata, Justice Khanna may guide guidelines for the protection of healthcare workers.
- Election Commission Appointments: Justice Khanna may review the constitutionality of recent changes in the appointment process of the Election Commission.
- PMLA Arrest Guidelines: He may provide guidelines on the need and conditions of arrest under the Money Laundering Act.
With these important cases pending, Chief Justice Khanna’s tenure will be eventful and will have a profound impact on India’s judicial system.
