New Delhi: Justice Sanjiv Khanna took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India on Monday, succeeding Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu during a formal ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Khanna, who was elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019, has expressed a strong focus on tackling the issue of judicial pendency and the need for timely justice. Known for his preference to stay out of the public eye, Justice Khanna believes that judges must adapt to the modern era, which is increasingly shaped by social media and public scrutiny. Having been elevated to the top judiciary role at a time when his tenure as Chief Justice will be relatively short—lasting only a little over six months until his retirement on May 13, 2025—Justice Khanna is among the few judges to have been appointed to the Supreme Court without having served as the Chief Justice of a High Court. Justice Khanna’s legal journey began in 1983 when he enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi. He started his practice in the district courts at the Tis Hazari Complex before moving on to the Delhi High Court and various tribunals. His tenure as the senior standing counsel for the Income Tax Department and later as the standing counsel (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi marked significant milestones in his career. He also represented the Delhi High Court in numerous criminal cases as an additional public prosecutor and an amicus curiae. He was also part of several Constitution Bench rulings, including the one upholding the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and striking down the 2018 electoral bonds scheme, among others.
