Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud has recommended Justice Sanjeev Khanna as his successor. Justice Khanna is set to assume office as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on November 10, 2024, and will serve for six months, until May 13, 2025. Here’s a detailed look at his background and career:
Early Life and Education
Justice Sanjeev Khanna was born on May 14, 1960, into a family with a strong legal heritage. He is the son of Delhi High Court judge Justice Devraj Khanna and the nephew of the respected Supreme Court judge Justice Hansraj Khanna. He completed his schooling at Modern School, Barakhamba Road, in Delhi and graduated from the University of Delhi in 1980. He then pursued his law degree at Delhi University’s Campus Law Center.
Legacy of Justice Hansraj Khanna
Justice Hansraj Khanna, Justice Sanjeev Khanna’s uncle, is known for delivering the dissenting judgment in the landmark “Habeas Corpus case” (ADM, Jabalpur vs Shivkant Shukla) of 1976. Following this judgment, the then government led by Indira Gandhi bypassed the seniority of four judges, including Justice Hansraj Khanna, in appointing Justice MH Beg as Chief Justice in 1977.
Career in the Judiciary
Justice Sanjeev Khanna started his legal career by enrolling as an advocate with the Delhi Bar Council in 1983. He initially practiced at the District Court in Delhi’s Tis Hazari Complex and later moved on to the Delhi High Court, where he handled cases in diverse areas such as constitutional law, taxation, and arbitration. He also served as Senior Standing Counsel for the Income Tax Department and was appointed Standing Counsel for the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi in 2004.
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Ascendancy to the Supreme Court
Justice Khanna was appointed as Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005, and became a permanent judge the following year in 2006. His tenure as a judge of the Delhi High Court also included significant roles such as Chairman/Judge-in-Charge of the Delhi Judicial Academy and the Delhi International Arbitration Centre.
In January 2019, Justice Khanna was promoted to the Supreme Court, making him one of the few judges promoted from their parent High Court, a list that includes only six others since 1997. His first day in the Supreme Court coincided with the same courtroom where his uncle Justice Hansraj Khanna had resigned.
Significant Contributions as Supreme Court Judge
During his tenure in the Supreme Court, Justice Khanna has been part of several Constitution Bench hearings for major cases, including those involving the Electoral Bond Scheme, the repeal of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir, and the bail of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.
He also held the position of Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee from June 17, 2023, to December 25, 2023, and currently serves as the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority. He is also a member of the Governing Council of the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal.
The Path Forward
As the 51st CJI, Justice Sanjeev Khanna will take over the top judicial position on November 10, 2024, and serve until May 13, 2025, marking a significant moment in his career. His legacy, influenced by his uncle’s judicial history and his own contributions to the Supreme Court, is expected to leave a lasting impact on the Indian judiciary.
