Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna bid a heartfelt farewell to the Supreme Court on Tuesday, bringing to a close a distinguished judicial career spanning two decades. Speaking at a ceremonial bench on his final day in office, CJI Khanna reflected on the value of public trust in the judiciary, stressing that such trust “cannot be commanded, it must be earned.” He praised the Supreme Court for embodying this principle and highlighted the institution’s strength in drawing from a diversity of judicial backgrounds.
Passing the baton to Justice BR Gavai, who will be sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14, CJI Khanna described his successor as his “biggest support” and expressed full confidence in Gavai’s commitment to safeguarding fundamental rights and liberty.
Elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019 and appointed Chief Justice in November 2024, Justice Khanna played a key role in several landmark decisions. These include rulings on Article 370, the decriminalisation of adultery, the electoral bonds scheme, and the EVM-VVPAT verification case.
Acknowledging his legal legacy, Justice Khanna humbly distanced himself from comparisons to his uncle, the late Justice HR Khanna, citing the vastly different challenges faced by the judiciary today.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)