Justice Sanjiv Khanna Takes Oath as India’s 51st Chief Justice

Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India on November 11, 2024, succeeding Justice D.Y. Chandrachud. The ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan with dignitaries including the President, Vice-President, Prime Minister, and other judicial figures in attendance. Justice Khanna’s six-month tenure will be marked by significant challenges, including a high case backlog, the increasing use of technology in court proceedings, and timely judicial appointments. He will also face the task of filling two immediate vacancies on the Supreme Court and addressing pending cases on crucial issues like the government’s use of the Money Bill route for legislation, the constitutional protection of essential religious practices, and the criminalization of non-consensual marital sexual intercourse. Justice Khanna’s legal career began in the Delhi district courts in 1983, and he has extensive experience in various fields of law, including constitutional, tax, and environmental law. He was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019, skipping the traditional path of serving as a Chief Justice of a High Court. His tenure as Chief Justice will be closely watched for his approach to these critical issues and his leadership in guiding the Supreme Court’s future direction.