The President has appointed Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India, days after incumbent CJI D Y Chandrachud wrote to the Union Law Ministry, naming him as his successor.
The appointment will come into effect from November 11.
Announcing the same in a post on X, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said, “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.”
Justice Khanna began his legal career after enrolling with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. His practice initially revolved around the district courts at the Tis Hazari complex, after which he shifted to the Delhi High Court, where he handled several notable criminal cases as an Additional Public Prosecutor.
He also served as Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department and later, as Standing Counsel (Civil) for the National Capital Territory of Delhi in 2004.
In 2005, Khanna was elevated to the Delhi High Court as an Additional Judge and made a permanent judge in 2006. During his tenure he also held the positions of Chairman of the Delhi Judicial Academy and the Delhi International Arbitration Centre.
Khanna’s elevation to the Supreme Court in January 2019 was a rare occurrence in the judicial hierarchy. He ascended to the top court without serving as a Chief Justice of any High Court. There are only a few who are elevated to the Supreme Court even before becoming a Chief Justice of any High Court.
Khanna was part of the three-judge bench in the case involving petitions challenging the clearance of the Central Vista redevelopment project, where he delivered a dissenting opinion.
Khanna was involved in several other controversial Constitutional Bench rulings, such as upholding the abrogation of Article 370 and striking down the 2018 electoral bonds scheme.
Justice Khanna has also held significant administrative positions, such as Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee and Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority.
