At farewell, outgoing CJI Khanna says Justice BR Gavai was his “biggest support”
CJI Sanjiv Khanna Retires
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna retired from his judicial post after he completed his term as CJI. The new Chief Justice of India is going to be Justice BR Gavai.
On his retirement day, Chief Justice Khanna tried to find words to speak as he spoke about his time as CJI. He gave a message of appraisal about his successor too.
He Addresses The Ceremonial Bench
As he addressed the ceremonial bench, he said, “I am speechless. I carry a lot of memories. Once you are a lawyer, you remain a lawyer. The public trust that the judiciary has cannot be commanded and has to be earned. Judiciary is a common term that represents the Bench and the Bar. Bar is the conscience keeper.”
The ceremonial bench was present so as to honour his legacy as the Chief Justice of India.
Whilst speaking about the one next-in-line to become CJI of India, he said that Justice BR Gavai was his “biggest support”.
The CJI said, “In him, you will have a great CJI. He will uphold the fundamental rights and liberty.”
In the latter part of the day, he spoke to reporters. Justice Khanna refused his comparison to his father Justice HR Khanna. His father served as Chief Justice of India in a critical time from 1971-1977.
“I can’t compare myself with HR Khanna. Those times were different. He was a person with a huge intellect,” he said.
His Judicial Achievements
As he retires, his tenure as a judge for 20 years comes to an end. In 2005, he was first made an Additional Judge of the High court of Delhi. Justice Khanna became a permanent judge the next year, in 2006.
Then he was added as a judge to the Supreme Court in the year 2019. Subsequently, he took on the role of Chief Justice of India in November 2024.
He has been part of several major judgements. This includes Article 370, the electoral bonds scheme, decriminalization of adultery and the EVM-VVPAT tally case.
Justice BR Gavai will be taking the oath as the 52nd CJI tomorrow.
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