Latest news with #CJI-designate
Mint
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Ex-CJI Sanjiv Khanna declares: No post-retirement roles for me
Former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna has said he would not accept any post-retirement official assignments and that he would continue his innings in law. Justice Khanna was appointed as the CJI on November 11, 2024 and retired on 13 May, after a six-month tenure. Justice Khanna will be replaced by Justice BR Gavai, who takes oath as 52nd CJI today. After the conclusion of the ceremonial bench proceedings on Tuesday, the CJI met journalists in the apex court premises and said, 'I will not accept any post-retirement post ... .perhaps will do something with law.' Many former apex court judges begin their innings in arbitration post judgeship. 'I will have a third innings and will do something related to law,' the CJI said. Justice Sanjiv Khanna was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on January 18, 2019. Justice Khanna has also been the Chairman, Supreme Court Legal Services Committee (SCLSC) from 17th June, 2023 till 25th December, 2023 and Executive Chairman, NALSA from 26th December, 2023 till 10 November, 2024. After having initially practised in the District Courts of Delhi, he started practice primarily in the High Court of Delhi. As an amicus curiae, he assisted the High Court of Delhi in several criminal cases and cases involving issues of public importance. On June 24, 2005, Justice Khanna was elevated as an Additional Judge of the High Court of Delhi and was made a Permanent Judge on 20th February, 2006. Justice Sanjiv Khanna was part of 2024 Supreme Court judgement pertaining to the interim bail of former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal while the latter was embroiled in a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Justice Khanna was also part of a five-judge bench that declared the controversial electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional due to concerns around transparency of donors and potential for corrupt practices. Responding to a query related to the cash discovery controversy involving high court judge Justice Yashwant Varma, he said, 'Judicial thinking has to be decisive and adjudicatory.' He added, 'We see plus and minus points and decide the issue, then rationally we weigh various factors that help us to make a right decision.' The CJI dealt with the cash row controversy following a news report, prompting him to take several steps, including a preliminary inquiry by Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyaya, judicial work being taken away from Justice Varma in the Delhi High Court, and later his transfer to the Allahabad High Court sans judicial work. I will not accept any post-retirement post ... perhaps will do something with law. After the in-house inquiry panel indicted the judge, the CJI nudged him to resign and later wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Justice Varma refused to tender resignation. On May 10, CJI-designate Justice B R Gavai also said no to any post-retirement assignments.
Hans India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
CJI Khanna demits office amid resounding farewell
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday gave a resounding farewell to Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who demitted office as the 51st Chief Justice of India, amid warm wishes and greetings for a great future. CJI Khanna, CJI-designate Justice BR Gavai and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar gathered in a thickly crowded Courtroom 1 for the Ceremonial Bench proceedings. The event witnessed a broad cross-section of the legal fraternity, from Attorney General R Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to several Senior Advocates and young members of the Bar, conveying their adulation for CJI Khanna. Justice Gavai termed his predecessor as a gentleman to the core in every sense, whose humility and calm demeanour always stood out in the Court. His verdicts reflected sensitivity towards human rights. The CJI-designate hailed the recent Full Court decision to publish the assets of the judges, stating that it showed CJI Khanna's 'penchant' for transparency. The CJI said Justice Gavai would turn out to be an excellent Chief Justice, who would uphold the institution, the fundamental rights, and the basic doctrines of law. Speaking on the occasion, Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president and Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal said the 51st CJI carried forward the legacy of his uncle and former Supreme Court judge, Justice HR Khanna, with an essence of intuition and keen understanding. There was no branch of law in which Justice Sanjiv Khanna's clarity of thought was not evident from this side of the Bench (the Bar). The CJI's encouragement of young advocates, urging them to take the floor and argue, embodied the very best qualities of a judge. He represented what truly mattered in the judiciary. While the Supreme Court was saddened by his departure, both the Bar and the Bench realised that when Justice Khanna would wake up tomorrow, he would face a new day after 20 years of a habit. Attorney General R Venkataramani hailed the simplicity reflected in the verdicts of CJI Khanna, stating that he strove to uphold liberties and institutional integrity. SG Mehta showered praises on the CJI for delivering crisp judgments and giving a patient hearing to everyone. He said the CJI made his uncle Justice HR Khanna proud today. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju referred to an article published recently by a leading legal news website about CJI Khanna's legacy. Citing the article, the ASG said the CJI quietly defended the Constitution through trials by fire. He took firm decisions to protect liberty and restored the trust of the public in the judiciary without chasing legacy or limelight.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Public trust in judiciary needs to be earned: CJI
Public trust in the judiciary has to be earned and cannot be commanded, said outgoing Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna — who recently recommended removal of a high court judge over misconduct and published assets of Supreme Court judges for public scrutiny —as he demitted office on Tuesday. Hanging his judicial robe after nearly two-decade career on the bench, of which six years spent in the Supreme Court, including the last six months as CJI, justice Khanna spent an eventful last day in office. He shared a ceremonial bench with CJI-designate justice Bhushan R Gavai in the morning, held a brief interaction with reporters in the press lounge in the afternoon, and attended a farewell event organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), where he touched upon his career as a lawyer and judge spanning 42 years. Addressing lawyers who gathered to bid him farewell during the ceremonial bench sitting, CJI Khanna said he was 'completely overwhelmed' by the good wishes. 'I carry with me a lot of memories. And memories which are very nice, which will remain throughout. Once you are a lawyer, you remain a lawyer,' he said. Known for being forthright, the CJI voiced concern over 'truth deficit' in the legal profession and emphasised the role of the bar and the bench in earning public trust. 'The public trust that judiciary has cannot be commanded. It has to be earned,' he said. Justice Khanna, who took oath as the 51st CJI on November 11, 2024, took some unprecedented decisions during his short yet eventful tenure. He recently wrote to the President and Prime Minister CJI recommending removal of former Delhi high court judge, justice Yashwant Verma, after a top court-constituted panel confirmed allegations of discovery of cash from the latter's official residence. In unprecedented moves, he also made public the assets and liabilities of the top court judges as well as collegium records on judge's appointments. Talking about justice Gavai, who will take over as the 52nd CJI on Wednesday, justice Khanna said he is 'confident that Justice Gavai will be an excellent Chief Justice' and that 'he is going to uphold the fundamental rights' and 'basic doctrines of law.' In his speech at the farewell event, Justice Gavai said: 'CJI Khanna demonstrated firm and principled leadership in addressing instances of judicial handling of these sensitive matters, reflected both his judicial responsibility and personal integrity.' On the full court of the Supreme Court deciding to publish the assets of the judges, Justice Gavai said it reflected CJI Khanna's 'penchant for transparency.' Justice Gavai described CJI Khanna as a 'gentleman to the core in every sense' and said it was nothing short of 'poetic justice' that life has come full circle as justice HR Khanna, who missed out on the CJI post in 1976 for his golden dissent in the ADM Jabalpur case during Emergency, has now his nephew CJI Khanna completing an eventful tenure at the helm of judiciary. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta also told CJI Khanna that 'justice HR Khanna would be really proud of you.' CJI Khanna also held a brief interaction with reporters in the press lounge where, in reply to queries on his future plans, he said: 'I will not accept any post-retirement post, but perhaps will do something with law.' Addressing his farewell function organised by the Supreme Court Bar Association, Justice Khanna elaborated on his journey in the legal profession. 'I never spoke of myself as a judge because of the reverence to the office. As I stand here at the cusp of my retirement I like to speak about my life and journey. I have served for 20 years. I have no mixed feelings. I am simply happy. I feel blessed to have retired as the Chief Justice of India. Becoming a judge of the Delhi high court was itself a dream come true,' the outgoing CJI said. Justice Khanna's 42-year career in the profession started after he enrolled as an advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is also the president of SCBA, said justice Khanna's entire career has been without a blemish and he has carried well the legacy of justice HR Khanna. 'I have practised before you in the high court and this court, but your commitment to the cause of justice has always been unwavering in the 20 years you have been on the bench,' Sibal said. 'You will be remembered for steering the ship in turbulent times and anchoring it for its voyage to be carried forward by your successor, Justice B R Gavai.'
Time of India
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Will always strive for social, political justice: CJI-designate Gavai
CJI-designate Justice BR Gavai NEW DELHI: True to his steadfast alignment to Ambedkar's philosophy of equality and dignity for the downtrodden and a day before taking oath as CJI, Justice Bhushan Ramakant Gavai said he considers his position as a judge and head of judiciary an opportunity to strive for social and political justice . "Justice must be equitable irrespective of a person's social or monetary status," Gavai said. "Timely justice is the ultimate goal," he said. Interacting with TOI after visiting the Shanti Stupa in Delhi on the occasion of Buddha Purnima, CJI-designate Justice B R Gavai said B R Ambedkar's belief in the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity remains eternally essential for India's democracy and unity. Legal aid to the poor is dear to his heart. He wants National Legal Services Authority and the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee to synchronise their activities with state- and district-level legal service authorities to create synergy for making litigation affordable and less tortuous for the poor. Diversity and inclusivity is also a mantra that has become part of his decision-making process over the years. 'We will attempt to get women judges and give representation to diverse communities in constitutional courts without compromising merit and suitability,' he said. 'Timely justice is the ultimate goal,' the CJI-designate said. 'Reducing pendency at every level of the three-tier justice delivery system through a long-term strategy is the need of the hour. Augmentation of judicial infrastructure and facilities for litigants, especially in district and taluk level courts, will be given priority during my tenure,' Justice Gavai said. During his tenure, the collegium led by him will have the opportunity to fill five vacancies that will arise in the SC. He will be the first Buddhist CJI and second Dalit, after CJI K G Balakrishnan, in the 75-year history of SC. Ahead of taking oath as the 52nd CJI, the man who inspired him with the ideals of Ambedkar, his late politician father R S Gavai's prophetic words played on a loop in his mind. He also reflected on his journey in formal education that started from a municipal school in a semi-slum area of his native town Amravati, Vidarbha. He studied in Bombay after his father became vice-chairperson and then chairperson of Maharashtra legislative council. After doing first-year law from Govt Law College, Bombay, he had to return to Amravati to complete LLB as his father fell out with Rajiv Gandhi and did not get the position he had enjoyed in legislative council. After getting his law degree, he started practising in Nagpur, which has a bench of Bombay HC, built a significant practice and shared a professional table with Sharad A Bobde, who went on to become the 48th CJI. Gavai applied for 'senior' designation with the intention to shift his practice to Delhi. At that juncture, Bombay HC Chief Justice C K Thakker sought his consent for recommending his name for appointment as an HC judge. He was not inclined, but consulted his parliamentarian father, who told him, 'Accept the offer of judgeship. You will contribute more to society. One day, you will become the Chief Justice of India . But I will not be there to see that day.' Gavai Sr died in July 2015, much before Justice Gavai was appointed as an SC judge. Justice Gavai shifted from Nagarapalika Prathamik Vidyalaya, Amravati, to Chikitsak Samuha Madhyamik Shala, Girgaon, Mumbai, when his father became deputy chairperson of Maharashtra legislative council. His mother Kamalatai thought Gavai would lag in English studying in a Marathi medium school and insisted on his admission to Holy Name High School in Colaba. His name was recommended for HC judgeship in 2002, but it was returned as he was less than 45 years in age. He took oath as a judge of Bombay HC on November 14, 2003.
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Business Standard
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
Won't take up any official post after retirement from CJI post: Khanna
After the conclusion of the ceremonial bench proceedings, the CJI met journalists in the apex court premises and said, I will not accept any post-retirement will do something with law Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday said though he wasn't going to accept any post-retirement official assignments, he would continue his innings in law. Justice Khanna, who was elevated to the top court in January 18, 2029, was appointed as the CJI on November 11, 2024 and would be demitting office on Tuesday. After the conclusion of the ceremonial bench proceedings, the CJI met journalists in the apex court premises and said, I will not accept any post-retirement post ... .perhaps will do something with law. Many former apex court judges begin their innings in arbitration post judgeship. I will have a third innings and will do something related to law, the CJI said. Responding to a query related to the cash discovery controversy involving high court judge Justice Yashwant Vermam, he said, Judicial thinking has to be decisive and adjudicatory. He added, We see plus and minus points and decide the issue, then rationally we weigh various factors that help us to make a right decision. The CJI dealt with the cash row controversy following a news report, prompting him to take several steps, including a preliminary inquiry by Delhi High Court Chief Justice D K Upadhyaya, judicial work being taken away from Justice Varma in the Delhi High Court, and later his transfer to the Allahabad High Court sans judicial work. After the in-house inquiry panel indicted the judge, the CJI nudged him to resign and later wrote to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi after Justice Varma refused to tender resignation. On May 10, CJI-designate Justice B R Gavai also said no to any post-retirement assignments.
