Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: Justice Sanjeev Khanna, currently a Supreme Court judge, has been recommended by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud as his successor. Set to assume office as the 51st CJI on November 10, Justice Khanna will serve a six-month term, leading the Indian judiciary until May 13, 2025. Known for his pivotal rulings in constitutional and public interest matters, Justice Khanna has left an indelible mark on Indian law.
Key Judgments by Justice Sanjeev Khanna:
- Electoral Bond Scheme: Justice Khanna was part of the Constitution Bench that ruled on the controversial Electoral Bond Scheme. The scheme, which allows anonymous donations to political parties, was declared unconstitutional, with the court stating that transparency in political funding is crucial to uphold democracy and the public’s right to information.
- Article 370 Repeal: Justice Khanna played a significant role in the judgment on the abrogation of Article 370, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. In this historic ruling, he upheld the constitutional process behind the repeal, stating that while Article 370 was a unique feature of India’s federal structure, it did not grant permanent sovereignty to the region.
- Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal’s Bail: In another notable ruling, Justice Khanna granted interim bail to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, allowing him to campaign for the Lok Sabha elections amidst legal proceedings.
- Manish Sisodia Bail Ruling: In the case of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, Justice Khanna emphasized the importance of expediting trials, ruling that delays in legal proceedings could serve as grounds for granting bail under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
- VVPAT-EVM Verification Case: In a significant ruling ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Justice Khanna denied a petition seeking 100% verification of votes using Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails (VVPATs) for electronic voting machines (EVMs). His judgment highlighted the sufficiency of existing security measures and the efficiency of the current voting system.
Born into a family of legal luminaries on May 14, 1960, Justice Khanna is the son of Delhi High Court judge Justice Devraj Khanna and the nephew of Justice Hansraj Khanna, a senior Supreme Court judge known for his historic dissent in the 1976 Habeas Corpus case. Despite his uncle’s celebrated judicial legacy, Justice Sanjeev Khanna has carved out a distinguished path of his own, marked by his direct promotion to the Supreme Court from the Delhi High Court.
As Justice Khanna prepares to take over as the next Chief Justice, his rulings continue to shape the legal landscape of India, and his six-month tenure is expected to see more landmark judgments that will influence the country’s judicial future.
