In a ceremonial sitting marking the conclusion of his tenure, outgoing Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna received an outpouring of tributes from the bench and bar, commending his steadfast adherence to constitutional values, clarity in judgment, and collegial leadership. Justice B.R. Gavai, the Chief Justice-designate, was lauded as a worthy successor expected to uphold the institutional ethos of the Supreme Court.
Presiding over the bench alongside Justices Gavai and Sanjay Kumar, CJI Khanna reflected on his judicial journey with humility and gratitude. “I am overwhelmed,” he remarked, acknowledging the profound memories and relationships cultivated throughout his career. He emphasized the symbiotic role of the judiciary and the legal profession, asserting that “judges alone do not make the judiciary, the bar is its conscience keeper.”
Justice Khanna expressed confidence in Justice Gavai’s leadership, describing him as his “biggest support” throughout their tenure together, including within the collegium. “In Justice Gavai, you will find a Chief Justice deeply committed to fundamental rights and constitutional doctrines,” he affirmed.
The ceremonial sitting also carried the weight of legacy. Justice Khanna, the nephew of the late Justice H.R. Khanna, renowned for his historic dissent in ADM Jabalpur, was credited for continuing and personalizing that legacy. Justice Gavai remarked, “To walk in the shadow of such a name is no small task, but Justice Sanjiv Khanna not only upheld that legacy, he made it his own.”
Justice Gavai described his predecessor’s judgments as marked by “clarity, elegance, and constitutional integrity.” He reiterated that the farewell signified not an end, but a transition, “What ends today is not a career, but the beginning of another.”
Justice Sanjay Kumar, who served alongside CJI Khanna for nearly a year, shared insights into his working style. “He never made notes, yet recalled every detail with precision,” Justice Kumar noted, highlighting Khanna’s calm temperament and methodical approach to both judicial and administrative matters. He praised the outgoing CJI’s ability to blend idealism with pragmatism, even recalling a moment when Khanna encouraged prompt judgment-writing to prevent case backlogs nationwide.
At the bar, tributes poured in from Attorney General R. Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, and several senior advocates. The Attorney General likened Khanna’s judicial approach to a “quietly flowing river” that achieved much with grace. He praised the Chief Justice’s steadfast commitment to liberty, procedural fairness, and institutional integrity.
Solicitor General Mehta emphasized Khanna’s clarity and insight, stating, “Even when clients lost, we as lawyers felt enriched. His judgments were crisp, insightful, and academically sound without being verbose.”
Senior advocate and SCBA President Kapil Sibal offered an emotional tribute, calling CJI Khanna “a beacon of light” who embodied the highest standards of judicial conduct. Drawing parallels to his uncle’s famed dissent, Sibal remarked, “Justice H.R. Khanna’s lone voice in ADM Jabalpur now resounds louder than the forgotten majority, and you, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, have carried that flame forward.”
One advocate poignantly remarked that the week saw two legends retire, one from the legal field and the other from cricket, referring to Virat Kohli, adding, “You are the streak across the sky that is never forgotten.”
Justice Sanjiv Khanna was elevated to the position of the 51st Chief Justice of India on November 11, 2024, and served until May 13, 2025. Despite his brief tenure, he was widely appreciated for promoting transparency, judicial accountability, and constitutional morality.
As he exits the bench, it is clear that his contributions will continue to influence generations of lawyers and judges, his legacy deeply embedded in the evolving jurisprudence of the Supreme Court.
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