CJI Sanjiv Khanna Takes Oath: Electoral Bonds To Article 370, Key Cases He Ruled On As SC Judge
Last Updated:
As Supreme Court judge, Justice Khanna has been part of several landmark judgments including the ones of electoral bonds, abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and more.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna is India’s 51st Chief Justice (Photo: PTI)
Justice Sanjiv Khanna took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday, succeeding CJI DY Chandrachud. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Khanna at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today.
Justice Khanna, 64, will serve a six-month tenure as the Chief Justice of India and will retire on May 13, 2025.
As Supreme Court judge, Justice Khanna has been part of several landmark judgments including the ones of electoral bonds, abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs).
Early Life And Career
Born on May 14, 1960 to late Justice Dev Raj Khanna, former Judge of Delhi High Court, 64-year-old Justice Khanna completed his schooling at Delhi’s Modern School, Barakhamba Road. He later studied law at the Campus Law Centre of Delhi University and enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. He initially practiced in the district courts at the Tis Hazari complex in the national capital and, later, in the Delhi High Court.
Justice Khanna has served on tribunals in diverse fields like constitutional law, direct taxation, arbitration, commercial law, company law, land law, environmental law and medical negligence. He has held a long tenure as the senior standing counsel for the income tax department.
Justice Khanna was appointed as the standing counsel (civil) for the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi in 2004.
In 2005, he was elevated as an additional judge of the Delhi HC and made permanent in 2006. As a judge in that high court, he has held the position of chairman/judge-in-charge of the Delhi Judicial Academy, Delhi International Arbitration Centre and the District Court Mediation Centres.
Justice Khanna is reportedly among the few judges elevated to the SC even before becoming a Chief Justice of any high court. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019.
Cases as Supreme Court judge
As Supreme Court judge, Justice Khanna has been part of landmark cases.
Article 370: In 2023, Justice Sanjiv Khanna was part of the five-judge bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Justice Khanna in his ruling said that Article 370 was an element of asymmetric federalism, not sovereignty, and its removal does not compromise India’s federal structure.
Electoral Bonds: In 2024, Justice Khanna was on the five-judge bench that declared electoral bonds unconstitutional. Justice Khanna in his ruling said donor privacy does not extend to donations made through banking channels, highlighting that donor identities are “asymmetrically known” to the bank officers handling the bonds.
Verification of VVPAT: In 2024, Justice Khanna led a Division Bench that dismissed the plea that sought 100 per cent VVPAT verification of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) votes. In his ruling, he noted the current system provided “michief-free” counting of votes.
Interim bail to Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal: Earlier this year, Justice Khanna was on the bench that granted interim bail to former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, following which he could campaign for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
