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{{Short description|51st Chief Justice of India (November 2024 to May 2025)}}
{{Distinguish|Sanjeev Khanna}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Sanjiv Khanna
| image = Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2024
| order = 51st
| status =
| office = Chief Justice of India
| term_start = 11 November 2024
| term_end = 13 May 2025
| succeeded = [[Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai]]
| appointer = [[Droupadi Murmu]]
| predecessor = [[Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud]]
| office1 = Judge of [[Supreme Court of India]]
| term_start1 = 18 January 2019
| term_end1 = 10 November 2024
| nominator1 = [[Ranjan Gogoi]]
| appointer1 = [[Ram Nath Kovind]]
| office2 = Judge of [[Delhi High Court]]
| term_start2 = 24 June 2005
| term_end2 = 17 January 2019
| nominator2 = [[Ramesh Chandra Lahoti]]
| appointer2 = [[A P J Abdul Kalam]]
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1960|05|14|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[New Delhi]], India
| alma_mater = [[St Stephen's College, Delhi]], ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) <br>[[Faculty of Law, University of Delhi|Faculty of Law, Delhi]], ([[Bachelor of Laws|LLB]])
| relations = [[Hans Raj Khanna]] (uncle)
| children = 2
}}
'''Sanjiv Khanna '''(born 14 May 1960) is a retired Indian jurist who served as the [[List of chief justices of India|51st]] [[Chief Justice of India]] from 11 November 2024 to 13 May 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sanjiv Khanna |url=https://www.scobserver.in/judges/sanjiv-khanna/ |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Supreme Court Observer |language=en-US |archive-date=11 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111052516/https://www.scobserver.in/judges/sanjiv-khanna/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was the ''ex officio'' Patron-in-Chief of the [[National Legal Services Authority]] and the [[de facto]] Chancellor of the [[National Law School of India University]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-10-24 |title=Justice Sanjiv Khanna to take oath as Chief Justice of India on November 11, 2024 |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/justice-sanjiv-khanna-to-take-oath-as-chief-justice-of-india-on-11-11-2024/article68792732.ece |access-date=2024-11-08 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He has also served as a judge at the [[Delhi High Court]].

==Early life and background==
Sanjiv Khanna was born on 14 May 1960.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Deka |first=Kaushik |date=12 November 2024 |title=Family legacy to high-stakes verdicts: What to expect from CJI Sanjiv Khanna in six months |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/family-legacy-to-high-stakes-verdicts-what-to-expect-from-cji-sanjiv-khanna-in-six-months-2632295-2024-11-12 |access-date=4 March 2025 |website=India Today}}</ref>

Khanna's uncle was [[Hans Raj Khanna]], a former judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vishwanath |first=Apurva |date=2024-10-24 |title=Justice Sanjiv Khanna appointed next Chief Justice of India, will enter office Nov 11 |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-sanjiv-khanna-appointed-next-chief-justice-of-india-9637179/ |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref> Hans Raj, who propounded the [[basic structure doctrine]] in 1973 and famously delivered the lone dissenting judgement in the [[ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla|ADM Jabalpur v. Shiv Kant Shukla]] case, popularly known as the [[Habeas corpus|Habeas Corpus]] case, in 1976, was superseded to the office of the [[Chief Justice of India]] by [[M. H. Beg]] at the behest of the then [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]], protesting which he resigned from the court in early 1977.<ref>{{cite web |title=CJ & Sitting Judges |url=http://delhihighcourt.nic.in/cjsittingjudges.asp |accessdate=12 January 2019 |publisher=Delhi High Court |archive-date=16 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816090653/http://delhihighcourt.nic.in/cjsittingjudges.asp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=12 January 2019 |title=SC recommends names of Justices Maheshwari, Sanjiv Khanna as top court judges |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sc-recommends-names-of-justices-maheshwari-sanjiv-khanna-as-top-court-judges/articleshow/67498650.cms |accessdate=12 January 2019 |work=Samanwaya Rautray |publisher=[[The Economic Times]] |archive-date=12 January 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112153012/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sc-recommends-names-of-justices-maheshwari-sanjiv-khanna-as-top-court-judges/articleshow/67498650.cms |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="54CJI">{{Cite web |date=23 November 2021 |title=7 Next CJIs |url=https://www.scobserver.in/journal/7-next-cji-s/ |access-date=24 November 2021 |publisher=Supreme Court Observer |language=en |archive-date=28 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228123417/https://www.scobserver.in/journal/7-next-cji-s/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Education ===
Khanna completed his schooling at the [[Modern School (New Delhi)|Modern School]], [[New Delhi]], in 1977.<ref name=":1" /> After graduating from [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]] in 1980 with a [[Bachelor of Arts]], he studied Law at Campus Law Centre of the [[Faculty of Law, University of Delhi]], in the same batch as Justice [[Indu Malhotra]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mittal |first1=Radhika |date=6 November 2024 |title=Sanjiv Khanna: The Future Chief Justice of India and His Journey to the Apex Court - Desi Kaanoon |url=https://desikaanoon.in/sanjiv-khanna-the-future-chief-justice-of-india-and-his-journey-to-the-apex-court/ |website=Desi Kaanoon}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />

==Career==
Khanna was enrolled as an Advocate in the [[Bar Council of Delhi]] in the year 1983. In 2004, he also served as the Standing Counsel (Civil) for the [[Delhi|National Capital Territory of Delhi]], and before this appointment, he was working as the Senior Standing Counsel for the [[Income Tax Department]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Naaz |first=Fareha |date=25 October 2024 |title=Justice Sanjiv Khanna's journey: Modern School, St Stephen's alumni to becoming India's next Chief Justice |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/justice-sanjiv-khannas-journey-from-early-life-to-becoming-indias-next-chief-justice-11729830754928.html |access-date=4 November 2024 |website=Mint |archive-date=13 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113013526/https://www.livemint.com/news/justice-sanjiv-khannas-journey-from-early-life-to-becoming-indias-next-chief-justice-11729830754928.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 24 June 2005, he was elevated as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court and made permanent on 20 February 2006. He was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court of India on 18 January 2019. Khanna was elevated despite 32 other High Court judges being more senior than him.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Rajagopal |first=Krishnadas |date=2024-10-26 |title=Sanjiv Khanna: A servant of justice |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sanjiv-khanna-a-servant-of-justice/article68800869.ece |url-access=subscription |access-date=2024-11-03 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X |archive-date=10 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110150535/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sanjiv-khanna-a-servant-of-justice/article68800869.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> His elevation sparked controversy within judicial circles; however, his appointment was approved by the [[Government of India]].<ref name=":0" />

[[File:Droupadi Murmu administering the oath of office to Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the Chief Justice of India.jpg|thumb|[[President of India|President]] [[Droupadi Murmu]] administering the oath of office to Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the [[Chief Justice of India]].]]
On 17 October 2024, in accordance with central government convention, the outgoing Chief Justice [[Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud]] recommended the name of Justice Khanna as the next Chief Justice to the [[Ministry of Law and Justice (India)|Ministry of Law and Justice]].<ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=18 October 2024 |title=CJI Chandrachud names Justice Sanjiv Khanna as successor |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cji-chandrachud-names-justice-j-sanjiv-khanna-as-successor/article68763371.ece |access-date=12 November 2024 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn= |archive-date=11 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111065354/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/cji-chandrachud-names-justice-j-sanjiv-khanna-as-successor/article68763371.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> Khanna took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) after the retirement of Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud on 11 November 2024 during a ceremony held at [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bhargava |first=Ashish Kumar |date=30 October 2024 |title=Parents Of Sanjiv Khanna, Next Chief Justice Of India, Wanted Him To Be Chartered Accountant |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/parents-of-sanjiv-khanna-next-cji-wanted-him-to-be-chartered-accountant-6908395 |access-date=2024-11-03 |website=NDTV |archive-date=13 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113011436/https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/parents-of-sanjiv-khanna-next-cji-wanted-him-to-be-chartered-accountant-6908395 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-11-11 |title=Justice Sanjiv Khanna takes oath as 51st Chief Justice of India |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sanjiv-khanna-swearing-in-chief-justice-of-india-9663793/ |work=[[The Indian Express]] |access-date=2024-11-11 |language=en |archive-date=11 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241111065915/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/sanjiv-khanna-swearing-in-chief-justice-of-india-9663793/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Khanna retired as the CJI on 13 May 2025,<ref>{{Cite news |last= |date=14 May 2025 |title=Ex-CJI Sanjiv Khanna declares: No post-retirement roles for me |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/excji-sanjiv-khanna-declares-no-post-retirement-roles-for-me-11747191196537.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250514050709/https://www.livemint.com/news/india/excji-sanjiv-khanna-declares-no-post-retirement-roles-for-me-11747191196537.html |archive-date=14 May 2025 |access-date=16 May 2025 |work=Mint |url-status=live }}</ref> and was succeeded by [[Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai]] as the next CJI.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ojha |first=Srishti |date=14 May 2025 |title=Justice BR Gavai takes oath as Chief Justice today, first Buddhist in the role |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/law-news/story/justice-bhushan-ramkrishna-gavai-br-gavai-take-oath-52nd-chief-justice-of-india-cji-first-buddhist-scheduled-castes-in-role-2724415-2025-05-14 |access-date=17 May 2025 |website=India Today}}</ref> Khanna stated that he would not accept any official roles after his retirement; however, he would seek to remain in the field of law.<ref>{{Cite news |date=14 May 2025 |title=CJI Sanjiv Khanna declines post-retirement role, plans 'third innings' in law |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/cji-sanjiv-khanna-declines-post-retirement-role-plans-third-innings-in-law/articleshow/121153652.cms |access-date=17 May 2025 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Khanna is married and has two children.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mahapatra |first=Dhananjay |date=2024-10-30 |title=As CJI, Justice Khanna to focus on paring pendency |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/as-cji-justice-khanna-to-focus-on-paring-pendency/articleshow/114748841.cms |access-date=2024-11-03 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257 |archive-date=13 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241113031209/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/as-cji-justice-khanna-to-focus-on-paring-pendency/articleshow/114748841.cms |url-status=live }}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Chief Justices of India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khanna, Sanjiv}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian lawyers]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian judges]]
[[Category:Judges of the Delhi High Court]]
[[Category:Justices of the Supreme Court of India]]
[[Category:Modern School (New Delhi) alumni]]
[[Category:Lawyers from New Delhi]]
[[Category:People from Delhi]]
[[Category:Faculty of Law, University of Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:Chief justices of India]]

Sanjiv Khanna - Revision history

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