A voice from the bench, not the podium: CJI Sanjiv Khanna's quiet legacy

India Today

13-05-2025

The brief tenure of Sanjiv Khanna as the Chief Justice of India, who retired on Tuesday, is a story of quiet resolve and understated transformation. Justice BR Gavai will take over as the next Chief Justice of India on Wednesday.A private, deeply introspective judge with no prior experience as a High Court Chief Justice and just a six-month tenure at the Supreme Court's helm, Chief Justice Khanna defied expectations.advertisementWhile many assumed his time in office would be transitional, he delivered with calm precision: steering sensitive cases, enhancing transparency, and reinforcing institutional accountability. His tenure is a testament to the idea that leadership is not always about duration, but about depth.CJI SANJIV KHANNA: MAN OF FEW WORDS
Justice Khanna's tenure offers a compelling lesson in judicial philosophy - that silence, when paired with substance, can be powerful. Known for his quiet demeanour and minimal public presence, he rarely made headlines with speeches or commentary. Instead, he let his judicial work speak for itself.In an era driven by constant commentary and soundbites, CJI Khanna stood apart - choosing action from the bench over articulation outside it. He embodied the oft-cited judicial credo, "Judges must speak through their orders".As Chief Justice, he refrained from commenting on cases or issues in public forums, opting instead to make decisive interventions from the bench when the moment demanded it.SMALL ORDERS, BIG RIPPLESadvertisementJustice Khanna's hallmark was the use of precise, timely interim orders that addressed urgent issues while leaving the final judgments for another day. He showed that timed interim interventions can have a more far-reaching impact than lengthy verdicts.One notable example of this was an interim order passed by a bench led by him, staying the registration of fresh suits under the Places of Worship Act. The matter had lingered since 2021 before multiple benches, but under his leadership, the Supreme Court took a clear, firm stand - observing that lower courts should not entertain such disputes while the apex court was seized of the matter.In the recent Waqf law case, Justice Khanna clearly indicated that some provisions needed to be stayed while the challenge to the amendment was pending.While he refrained from issuing an official stay, his firm approach led the Centre to provide a clear assurance that these provisions would not be enforced in the interim.COLLEGIUM MOVES AND TRANSPARENCYDuring the controversy around the proposed transfer of Justice Yashwant Varma, in whose residence an unaccounted cash pile was found, CJI Khanna took the significant step of releasing relevant Collegium details to the public - underscoring that in matters of public trust, clarity is the remedy, not silence and confusion.advertisementThe Collegium, under his leadership, on March 20, 2025, recommended Justice Varma's transfer, which was later approved by the Centre. Justice Khanna also withdrew judicial work assigned to Justice Varma during this period.On the appointments front, he played a pivotal role in finalising key collegium recommendations. Under his leadership, 51 out of 103 proposed candidates were recommended for High Court judgeships, including 11 OBCs, 1 SC, 2 STs, 8 minorities, and 2 related to sitting/retired judges.Twelve recommendations remain pending with the government. Notably, three Supreme Court judges were appointed during his term, including Justice Joymalya Bagchi, a future Chief Justice in the line of succession.One of the most transformative decisions during CJI Khanna's tenure was a full court resolution on April 1, 2025: all judges would mandatorily declare their assets upon assuming office, a step up from the earlier voluntary norm. By April 5, 2025, statements of assets were published on the Supreme Court website.He also oversaw the publication of the complete judicial appointment process, including the role of the High Court Collegium, inputs from the states and Centre, and the Supreme Court Collegium's final decision, bringing unprecedented public access to this previously opaque process.advertisementAdditional data, such as whether nominees belong to any reserved category (SC/ST/OBC/Minority/Woman) or are related to any sitting/retired judges, has also been made available online.COURT MANAGEMENTOn the administrative front, CJI Khanna ensured smoother case listings and effective court functioning. He continued the process of online mentioning of cases initiated by his predecessor, CJI DY Chandrachud.CJI Khanna also had a different way of hearing cases where multiple pleas are filed, including cases regarding the Places of Worship Act, Waqf Amendment Act etc. To ensure that cases are heard in a timely manner, he directed no further fresh pleas to be filed before court and, instead, intervention applications be moved.MAJOR JUDGMENTS AS JUDGEBefore assuming office as Chief Justice, Justice Khanna was part of several landmark decisions. He was on the five-judge bench that declared the Electoral Bond Scheme unconstitutional, reaffirming voters' right to information.He led the bench that refused to mandate 100% VVPAT verification, upholding the current EVM-based voting system. He contributed a separate concurring opinion to the judgment that upheld the abrogation of Article 370, reinforcing the constitutional validity of the government's move.Must Watch
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