Chief Justice Chandrachud Nominates Justice Sanjiv Khanna as His Successor

New Delhi, October 17, 2024: Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud has formally proposed Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor. In a communication to the Union government, CJI Chandrachud stated that, with his retirement scheduled for November 10, Justice Khanna is set to be the 51st Chief Justice of India upon approval by the government.

Justice Khanna will serve a six-month tenure as CJI, concluding on May 13, 2025, before his retirement. The nomination follows the long-standing convention where the retiring Chief Justice of India recommends the next most senior judge as a successor, pending the Union government’s approval.

Justice Chandrachud, who assumed the role of CJI on November 9, 2022, will step down after a distinguished tenure. He has been part of several landmark rulings, including judgments on the electoral bond scheme, the Ram Janmabhoomi verdict, the Sabarimala case, the same-sex marriage case, and the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, born on May 14, 1960, enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983 and began his legal career practicing at the Tis Hazari district courts before advancing to the Delhi High Court. He was appointed as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005 and became a permanent judge in 2006. He was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on January 18, 2019.

Chief Justice Chandrachud, born on November 11, 1959, had an illustrious career before becoming the 50th Chief Justice of India. He was appointed a Supreme Court judge in May 2016, served as Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court from 2013 to 2016, and was a judge of the Bombay High Court from 2000 to 2013. A graduate of Delhi University and Harvard University, CJI Chandrachud has had a significant impact on the judiciary, contributing to numerous landmark decisions.

With the nomination of Justice Khanna, the Supreme Court of India will witness a smooth transition of leadership as the judiciary continues to play a critical role in upholding the rule of law in the country.