New Delhi: Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the 51st Chief Justice of India, will step down today after a significant six-month tenure marked by several high-profile and constitutionally sensitive rulings. Having taken over from Justice D.Y. Chandrachud on November 11, Khanna’s short but impactful term saw him preside over crucial legal battles and deliver key decisions.
Justice B.R. Gavai is set to take charge as the next Chief Justice of India on Wednesday, becoming the 52nd to hold the top judicial post.
Justice Khanna’s bench handled landmark petitions challenging the Places of Worship Act and the Waqf Amendment Act. In a bold final move before retirement, he recommended the impeachment of Delhi High Court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, following the discovery of large sums of unaccounted cash at Varma’s residence. A three-member inquiry panel confirmed the allegations, prompting the recommendation to the President.
Justice Khanna also made headlines in November by dismissing a series of PILs that sought to remove the words “Socialist” and “Secular” from the Constitution’s Preamble.
A legacy of integrity runs deep in his family. Justice Khanna is the son of former Delhi High Court judge Dev Raj Khanna and academic Saroj Khanna, and the nephew of legendary Supreme Court judge H.R. Khanna, known for his courageous defense of civil liberties during India’s Emergency era.
