Who Is Justice Sanjiv Khanna? Recommended To Succeed CJI Chandrachud

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna as his successor in a communication letter to the Union government. CJI Chandrachud will be retiring on November 11. Upon the government's confirmation, Justice Khanna will become the 51st Chief Justice of India, serving a tenure of six months ahead of his retirement. He has been a distinguished contributor to the Indian judiciary. Here are some notable facts about Justice Sanjiv Khanna.

Who Is Justice Sanjiv Khanna?

Justice Sanjiv Khanna was born on May 14, 1960, in Delhi. His father, Dev Raj Khanna, served as a Judge of the Delhi High Court, and his uncle Hans Raj Khanna was also an influential Supreme Court Judge, renowned for his role in establishing the Basic Structure Doctrine in the Kesavananda Bharati case.

Justice Khanna was appointed as a Judge of the Delhi High Court in June 2005 and promoted to the Supreme Court of India in January 2019. He has overseen several landmark cases over his career, particularly those concerning the Right to Information (RTI) and freedom of speech.

Justice Khanna has served as the Chairman and Judge-in-charge of several key institutions, including the Delhi Judicial Academy, the Delhi International Arbitration Centre, and the District Court Mediation Centres. He is also the ex officio Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA).

Key Cases

One of Justice Khanna's most notable rulings is an Enforcement Directorate case involving Delhi's former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. In July 2024, he and Justice Dipankar Datta enabled the Aam Aadmi Party leader to receive interim bail and campaign during the Lok Sabha elections.  

Justice Khanna also played a key role in an important ruling concerning former Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia. In July 2024, he emphasised that delays in legal proceedings could serve as a valid reason for granting bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Justice Khanna was also part of a five-judge bench that recently declared the electoral bond scheme unconstitutional. The SC bench ordered that anonymous donations through these bonds infringe upon the public's right to information, which is essential for informed voting.

The next potential Chief Justice of India also supported the upholding of the abrogation of Article 370, stating that while it represented a unique aspect of India’s federal structure, it did not grant sovereignty to Jammu and Kashmir. The Union Territory recently concluded Assembly elections.