New Delhi: (CJI) DY Chandrachud has recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor. CJI Chandrachud has sent a formal recommendation to the Union Government proposing Justice Khanna’s name for the highest judicial post in the country.
If the government approves the recommendation, Justice Khanna will take over as the 51st Chief Justice of India, succeeding CJI Chandrachud on November 10, 2024. His term, however, will be relatively brief, lasting until May 13, 2025, giving him approximately seven months to lead the judiciary.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s judicial career has been marked by his rise from the Delhi High Court to the Supreme Court. Elevated to the Supreme Court in January 2019, Justice Khanna has been known for his strong stance on constitutional rights, human rights issues, and his commitment to upholding the rule of law.
The Khanna name carries weight in Indian legal circles, with his uncle, Justice Hans Raj Khanna, being remembered for his historic dissent in the ADM Jabalpur case during the Emergency. This legacy of independence and judicial integrity continues to shape Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s work on the bench.
