Who is Sanjiv Khanna? Everything you need to know about the new Chief Justice of India

Justice Khanna, the current first puisne judge at the Supreme Court, is scheduled to become the Chief Justice of India on November 11, succeeding the retiring CJI, DY Chandrachud.

The Union Government has officially sanctioned the appointment of Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI). Justice Khanna, the current first puisne judge at the Supreme Court, is set to assume the position on November 11, following the retirement of the incumbent CJI, DY Chandrachud.

CJI Chandrachud had previously recommended Justice Khanna's appointment, in accordance with established protocols for such selections. This transition signifies a significant moment in the Indian judiciary as Justice Khanna readies to take charge.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna will be sworn in on November 11, the day after the current Justice D Y Chandrachud steps down upon reaching the age of 65.

Justice Chandrachud assumed the role of CJI on November 8, 2022.

Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, shared the news on X (formerly Twitter), confirming the government's approval of Justice Khanna's appointment.

Meghwal's post read.https://x.com/arjunrammeghwal/status/1849464974193950825

“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.”, Meghwal's post

Justice Sanjiv Khanna has been designated as the 51st Chief Justice of India following the retirement of the current Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud.

Who is Justice Sanjiv Khanna?

• Justice Sanjiv Khanna was born on May 14, 1960

  
  
  
  

• Khanna finished his schooling at Modern School (New Delhi) in 1977. After graduating from St. Stephen's College, Delhi in 1980, he pursued Law at Campus Law Centre of the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi.

  
  

• Justice Sanjiv Khanna's father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna, retired as a judge from Delhi High Court in 1985, and his mother, Saroj Khanna, worked as a Hindi lecturer at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi.

  
  

• He enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. Initially, he practiced in the District Courts at the TisHazari complex, Delhi, and later in the High Court of Delhi and various tribunals in areas such as constitutional law, direct taxation, arbitration, commercial law, company law, land law, environmental law, and medical negligence.

  
  

• Justice Khanna was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on January 18, 2019.