Prime Minister Modi Congratulates Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Becoming Chief Justice of India

Sanjiv Khanna, New Chief Justice of India: Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated Justice Sanjiv Khanna as he took over as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday, November 11. The Prime Minister attended the oath-taking ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan in Delhi, marking the beginning of Justice Khanna's tenure.

Ceremony Attended by Top Dignitaries

The oath-taking ceremony was a significant event, attended by several prominent leaders. Along with Prime Minister Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, former CJI DY Chandrachud, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and former CJI J S Khehar were present at the occasion.

At 10 am, President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Sanjiv Khanna. He will serve as the CJI for a brief period of just over six months, as he is set to retire on May 13, 2025.

Justice Khanna Begins His Duties as CJI

Shortly after taking the oath, Justice Sanjiv Khanna commenced judicial proceedings at the Supreme Court. On his first day in office, he expressed his gratitude to the lawyers who had wished him well. Speaking in courtroom one, Justice Khanna said, “Thank you,” as senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi wished him a fruitful tenure. Justice Sanjiv Khanna was joined by Justice Sanjay Kumar to begin the court proceedings.

About Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna

Justice Sanjiv Khanna was born on May 14, 1960, and was elevated to the Supreme Court as a judge in January 2019. Throughout his judicial career, he has been a part of several landmark rulings, including

• Scrapping the controversial electoral bonds scheme
• Upholding the sanctity of electronic voting machines (EVMs)
• Supporting the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir

Justice Khanna hails from a distinguished family of legal professionals. His father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna, was a judge at the Delhi High Court, and his uncle, Justice H R Khanna, was a prominent former judge of the Supreme Court.

Focus on Reducing Pendency and Speeding Up Justice Delivery

During his career, Justice Khanna has been driven by the goal of reducing case pendency and improving the speed at which justice is delivered. As a third-generation lawyer, he has worked toward strengthening the judicial system in India, and he aims to continue this work during his tenure as CJI. His appointment is seen as a positive step towards improving the efficiency of the country's top judiciary.

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