Sanjeev Khanna will be the new Chief Justice of the country, will take oath on November 11

New Delhi: Justice Sanjiv Khanna will be the 51st Chief Justice of India. he/she will take oath on November 11. A day before this, the current Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s post will become vacant. Justice Chandrachud took charge as Chief Justice on November 8, 2022. Justice Khanna’s tenure as Chief Justice will be a little more than 6 months and he/she will demit office on May 13, 2025. Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said on ‘X’, ‘In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, the Hon. The President, after consultation with the Honorable Chief Justice of India, appoints Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court, as the Chief Justice of the country with effect from November 11, 2024.’

Who is Justice Sanjeev Khanna?

Justice Sanjiv Khanna has had a distinguished legal career. he/she got registered with Delhi Bar Council in 1983. It was from here that he/she started his/her legal journey. Initially, before going to Delhi High Court, Justice Khanna used to practice in the district courts located at Tis Hazari. Justice Sanjiv Khanna practiced in diverse fields including constitutional law, arbitration, commercial law, company law and criminal law. he/she worked as Senior Standing Counsel in the Income Tax Department. Justice Khanna was elevated as Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005. In 2006 he/she became a permanent judge.

Which decisions made you in the news?

Justice Khanna has been in the news for some important decisions. Justice Khanna had granted interim bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. With this, Kejriwal was able to campaign during the Lok Sabha elections. This decision shows how much importance Justice Khanna gives to democratic participation. In another important matter, he/she talked about granting bail to former Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi Manish Sisodia. he/she said that delay in PMLA cases could be a major reason for bail.

• Justice Khanna is also the chairman of the bench reviewing several provisions of PMLA. Justice Khanna made an important point regarding the delay in PMLA cases. he/she said, ‘If there is a delay, this can be a valid basis for bail.’
• Justice Khanna also led the bench that rejected the request for 100% VVPAT verification of votes cast in electronic voting machines (EVMs). The April 2024 decision acknowledged the measures taken by the Election Commission of India to ensure the accuracy and integrity of elections.
• Justice Khanna was also part of the five-judge bench that declared the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional earlier this year. Justice Khanna was also part of the five-judge bench that upheld the decision to abrogate Article 370.