NEW DELHI, 11 Nov. 2024
Justice Sanjiv Khanna took the oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday in a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan. The oath was administered by President Droupadi Murmu, marking the beginning of Justice Khanna’s tenure as the head of India’s judiciary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, and former Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud were among the dignitaries present. Also read: Mumbai Train Incident: Ticket Checker Suspended for Demanding Marathi Couple To Speak Hindi
Justice Khanna succeeds former CJI D Y Chandrachud, who retired on Sunday, November 10, after a distinguished tenure. At his farewell address on Friday, November 8, Justice Chandrachud praised Justice Khanna’s leadership qualities, expressing optimism about his successor’s future contributions to the judiciary.
The nomination of Justice Khanna as the next Chief Justice was proposed by Justice Chandrachud on October 17, followed by the Center’s official notification of his appointment on October 24.
Justice Khanna’s tenure as CJI will span slightly over six months, set to conclude with his retirement on May 1, 2025.