Justice Sanjiv Khanna Sworn in as 51st Chief Justice of India

Swearing-In Ceremony

• Date: [Insert Date] (e.g., November 11, 2023, assuming recent context).
• Venue: Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.
• Administered By: President Droupadi Murmu.
• Predecessor: Justice D.Y. Chandrachud (50th CJI).
• Tenure: Will serve until his retirement at age 65 (calculate based on birth year; e.g., if born in 1961, tenure until 2026).

Role of the Chief Justice of India (CJI)

1. Master of the Roster:
   • Assigns cases to Supreme Court benches, including constitutional benches.
   • Determines the composition of benches (e.g., 3-judge, 5-judge, or larger benches for critical cases).
   • Influences judicial priorities by allocating sensitive or high-profile cases.
2. Head of the Collegium System:
   • Leads the Supreme Court Collegium (CJI + 4 senior-most judges) to recommend appointments/transfers of judges to the SC and High Courts.
   • Plays a pivotal role in shaping the higher judiciary (Article 124 of the Constitution).
3. Administrative Head of the Supreme Court:
   • Oversees court administration, infrastructure, and digitization initiatives.
   • Coordinates with High Courts to address judicial backlog (over 70,000 pending cases in SC alone).
4. Guardian of Judicial Independence:
   • Represents the judiciary in interactions with the executive and legislature.
   • Upholds constitutional values and safeguards judicial autonomy.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s Background

• Appointment to SC: Elevated to Supreme Court Judge in January 2019.
• Previous Roles:
  • Judge at Delhi High Court (2016–2019).
  • Practiced law for over 30 years, specializing in civil, constitutional, and tax matters.
• Key Judgments:
  • Authored rulings on privacy rights, environmental regulations, and electoral reforms.
  • Notable cases: [Include specific examples, e.g., Aadhaar linkage, COVID-19 migrant crisis].
• Reputation: Known for a balanced approach, emphasis on procedural fairness, and judicial restraint.

Challenges & Expectations

1. Case Pendency:
   • Prioritize reducing backlog through fast-track benches and leveraging technology (e.g., e-courts, AI-driven case management).
2. Collegium Reforms:
   • Address transparency concerns in judicial appointments; potential push to formalize Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) with the government.
3. Judicial Infrastructure:
   • Expand the National Judicial Data Grid (NJDG) and improve access to justice in rural areas.
4. Constitutional Issues:
   • Key pending cases: Electoral bonds, same-sex marriage, Article 370, and federal disputes.

Vision & Priorities

• Digitization: Accelerate the shift to paperless courts and virtual hearings.
• Access to Justice: Strengthen legal aid mechanisms for marginalized communities.
• Judicial Ethics: Advocate for clearer guidelines on judges’ conduct and accountability.

Significance of His Appointment

• Continuity vs. Change: Expected to build on predecessor’s reforms (e.g., live-streaming of hearings) while addressing unresolved challenges.
• Seniority Tradition: Upheld the convention of appointing the senior-most judge as CJI, reinforcing institutional stability.

Conclusion

Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s tenure as CJI will be pivotal in navigating India’s judicial challenges, from pendency to safeguarding constitutional rights. His leadership will shape the judiciary’s role as a pillar of democracy, balancing tradition with modernization.