New Delhi: The Union Government has officially approved the appointment of Justice Sanjiv Khanna as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI). Currently serving as the first puisne judge at the Supreme Court, Justice Khanna will assume office on November 11, 2024, following the retirement of the incumbent CJI, DY Chandrachud.

CJI Chandrachud had recommended Justice Khanna for the position, following standard procedures. This marks a key transition in the Indian judiciary as Justice Khanna prepares to take on the leadership role.

Justice Khanna will take the oath on November 11, one day after Justice DY Chandrachud retires at the age of 65. Justice Chandrachud took office as CJI on November 8, 2022.

The appointment was confirmed by Union Minister of State for Law and Justice, Arjun Ram Meghwal, who shared the news on X (formerly Twitter). Meghwal’s post stated: “In exercise of the power conferred by the Constitution of India, Hon’ble President, after consultation with Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, as Chief Justice of India, effective from 11th November 2024.”

Justice Khanna will serve a brief tenure of 183 days, retiring on May 13, 2025. He is notably the nephew of the renowned Supreme Court judge Hans Raj Khanna, famous for his dissent in the ADM Jabalpur case, and also a former Delhi High Court judge, like his father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna.

Born on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna completed his education at Modern School and St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, followed by a law degree from the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. He enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983 and initially practiced in various courts, specializing in areas such as constitutional law, taxation, arbitration, commercial law, land law, and medical negligence. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019, and will now become the 51st Chief Justice of India.