NEW DELHI: Justice Sanjiv Khanna took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday. President Droupodi Murmu administered the oath in a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, defence minister Rajnath Singh, vice president Jagdeep Dhankar, and former CJI D Y Chandrachud were also present during the oath-taking ceremony.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna takes over as CJI after former CJI D Y Chandrachud retired from the Supreme Court on Sunday, November 10. In his farewell speech on his last working day on Friday, November 8, Justice D Y Chandrachud expressed confidence in Justice Khanna’s future leadership, describing his successor as “dignified, stable and deeply committed to justice”.
Also read: CJI DY Chandrachud’s emotional farewell speech: ‘No greater feeling than being able to serve those in need’
Former CJI D Y Chandrachud recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s name as his successor on October 17 following which, the Center officially notified Justice Khanna’s appointment on October 24.
Moments after Justice Khanna took oath, the SC website posted his profile as CJI and relegated Justice D Y Chandrachud to the pages reflecting profiles of former CJIs, a normal phenomenon that occurs with the swearing-in of a new CJI.
CJI Sanjiv Khanna will serve a tenure of just over 6 months and retire on May 13, 2025. Because of his short tenure as CJI, Justice Khanna had told TOI that he would not shift to the CJI’s official bungalow at 5, Krishna Menon Marg.
