A tribute to Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna: A Judge and a Mentor
- Lawttorney.ai
- May 27
- 9 min read
Updated: Jul 11
Introduction
India said a tearful goodbye to one of its finest judicial minds on 13th May 2025 when its 51st Chief Justice of India, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, retired. Despite having been in office for a short while, his time was characterized by an unwavering dedication to justice, integrity, and mentorship. This tribute attempts to look back on his distinguished career, his pioneering judgments, and the permanent impact he left on the legal fraternity.
Early Life and Legal Journey
Having been born into a distinguished tradition of lawyers in his family, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna's foray into law was a continuation of, as well as an interpretation of, his family's legacy. His father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna, was a judge of the Delhi High Court, and his uncle, Justice H.R. Khanna, was a pillar who remained steadfast during the Emergency. But Justice Sanjiv Khanna chose the less traveled road, his own path, one of humility, hard work, and an unflinching commitment to the idea of the rule of law.
Upon finishing his studies in law from the Campus Law Centre, Delhi University, he got himself enrolled as an advocate under the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. Having started practicing in front of the District Courts of Delhi, he soon gained roots in the Delhi High Court, dealing with a wide range of cases ranging from Constitutional Law to Direct Taxation, Arbitration, Commercial Laws, Company Laws, Land Laws, Environment Protection Laws, and Medical Negligence. His legal expertise and commitment to justice was rewarded with appointment as Senior Standing Counsel for Income Tax Department for seven years and subsequently, Senior Standing Counsel (Civil) for National Capital Territory of Delhi.
Judicial Ascendancy
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna's judicial career started with his appointment as an Additional Judge of Delhi High Court on June 24, 2005. He was a Permanent Judge as of February 20, 2006. He was the Chairman/Judge-in-charge of Delhi Judicial Academy, Delhi International Arbitration Centre, and District Court Mediation Centres and contributed substantially to judicial education and alternate dispute resolution processes while in service.
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India on 18 January 2019. His appointment to the Supreme Court was a reflection of his legal acumen and firm commitment to justice. He was best known in his time for his careful approach to cases, his extensive knowledge of the law, and his skillful balancing of the principles of the law with human empathy.
Landmark Judgments by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna's tenure in the Supreme Court of India was characterized by a string of landmark judgments that have contributed a great deal to Indian jurisprudence.
Maintaining the Integrity of Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs)
In 2024, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna was a part of a Division Bench which rejected a 100% VVPAT matching of the votes polled on Electronic Voting Machines. The court once again approved the security and integrity of the EVM system, citing available checks ordered by the Election Commission to secure free and fair polls.
Striking Down the Electoral Bond Scheme
In a landmark judgment, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna authored a concurring judgment declaring the Electoral Bond Scheme as unconstitutional. In his view, the right to privacy of donors would not arise if a donation has already been made via a bank channel because their identity can be traced back to the person and bank officials. He went on to state that victimisation, retaliation against donors, and retribution are all vices but were unable to provide the justification for the scheme's illegality in breaching the collective right to information of the voters.
Abrogation of Article 370
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna was one of the five judges who affirmed the revocation of Article 370, which earlier accorded special status to Jammu and Kashmir. According to him, Article 370 was a characteristic of asymmetric federalism, though not sovereignty, and contended that its revocation unsettled India's federal structure.
Granting Divorce Under Article 142
In Shilpa Sailesh vs Varun Sreenivasan, the majority judgment upholding the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to grant divorces directly under Article 142 of the Constitution was delivered by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna. According to him, the Court could decree divorce on the grounds of irretrievable breakdown in order to render "complete justice" between the parties, a ruling considered a milestone in the furtherance of divorce law in India.
Right to Information (RTI) and Judicial Independence
Arguably, the most significant judgment given by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna was in 2019 when he wrote a landmark judgment on the Right to Information (RTI) Act. In this judgment, he had expressed the view that the Office of the Chief Justice of India (OCJ) would be covered by RTI applications but also reiterated the necessity to maintain a balance between judicial transparency and right to privacy of judges. His interpretation reaffirmed that openness and autonomy of the judiciary can exist without diminishing the purity of the judiciary.
Mentorship and Legacy
Besides his legal expertise, Justice Khanna was cherished for his mentorship. His chambers were a sanctuary for young law interns and clerks where, besides being exposed to the technicalities of law, they were also taught values of humility, integrity, and dedication. His style of mentorship was marked by patience, encouragement, and keen interest in the development of his protégés.
Justice Khanna's contribution is not merely his judgments but the enormous number of individuals that he guided and influenced. His passion for justice, openness, and mentoring has established a permanent stamp on the legal fraternity.
Farewell and Reflections
On the final day of work, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna thanked judges and the Bar hugely. In his own humble voice, he addressed not only the responsibility of the judiciary but also the faith that it has to earn on a daily basis. "Public trust in the judiciary," he noted, "is not something to be commanded—it has to be earned, and earned on a day-to-day basis, through behavior, impartiality, and transparency."
In a packed courtroom full of dignitaries, senior attorneys, and junior lawyers alike, it was not just his judicial wisdom that he thought of, but also his warmth. Attorney General R. Venkataramani commended the outgoing Chief Justice of India for taking the office's prestige to greater heights. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal complemented his "clarity and intuition" in comprehending the core of any legal issue.
Justice Khanna's colleagues on the bench concurred. Successor Justice B.R. Gavai described it as "poetic justice" that Sanjiv Khanna assumed the role denied to his uncle, Justice H.R. Khanna, notorious for dissenting in the ADM Jabalpur case during the Emergency and being superseded as Chief Justice. "History," Gavai claimed, "has come full circle."
Justice P.V. Sanjay Kumar added that there was no one whose memory compared to that of Chief Justice Khanna, but the only names he could never recall were those of the litigants. The courtroom was filled with laughter and applause.
Humility in High Office
Even sitting on the nation's highest bench, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna was a man of limitless humility. He would never diminish his station, reminding all in his circle—interns, law clerks, and even judges—the robe is a badge of duty, not power.
This modesty was not a publicity stunt but a spontaneous one. Whether taking turns to make sandwiches for his interns himself, driving his own car by himself to go get food, or refusing financial remunerations he was legally entitled to, Gandhian simplicity was sought to be followed by Chief Justice Khanna in the lofty corridors of the Supreme Court of India.
His conception of power was one of stewardship, not dominance. His chamber was not closed, his mind not obstinate, and his heart not unyielding. For the most part, he bore the burdens of office not with pretence, but with gravity.
The Scholar-Judge
Though his judgments were seldom brief, they were never superficial either. Legal brevity had to be forced upon Chief Justice Khanna at the expense of neither totality nor liberality of spirit. His style of lawhood was a reflection of this synthesis—elaborative in rationale, comprehensive in its reach.
He was also specially famous for his method of Constitutional morality. He was a vigorous advocate of upholding the cause of oppressed sections, upheld judicial restraint, and never hesitated to battle executive arrogance. His orders, for instance, on poll transparency and Right to Information, were not legal judgments per se but were more like moral light-houses.
His court was an oasis of peace, even in the midst of furious controversy. Attorneys valued the way in which even in the midst of hot opposing argument, he listened intently, sometimes interrupting with a questioning question, but never let tension build. This calm fostered confidence.
Mentorship: Beyond the Law
It was not merely a working experience for all those young lawyers, law clerks, and interns working under the guidance of Chief Justice Khanna—it was an experience that transformed their lives for good. He did not only teach them the science of statutory interpretation or constitutional orthodoxy, but also the art of being a part of the legal community.
One of the elderly clerks remembered being permitted to attend law college lectures during the mornings and then return to his work in the office. The other remembered being permitted access to the personal library of the judge, which consisted of rare commentaries and jotted notes. These actions molded careers and most importantly, molded character.
He learned by example. He told a lawyer or a judge's authority was duty, discipline, and compassion. In a profession where cynicism and burnout are rampant, his serene presence made others remember that integrity is enduring—and indeed essential.
His unassuming actions—such as helping a clerk whose vehicle remained parked one Holi evening, or recalling who had not had lunch—sparkled with a man who lived his values, not just talked. Subordinates who worked for him did not just depart with legal expertise—subordinates who worked for him departed with an ethos of compassion, humility, and indestructible morals.
The Emotional Goodbye
The valedictories on May 13, 2025, in the Supreme Court of India were casual but genuine, genuine, and replete with an unusual blend of formality and warmth.
Some of the speakers made allusions to his death day symbolism: black robe, tears in his eyes, and a court full of thanksgiving crammed to capacity. Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave's speech was especially poignant—informing those around him that he was an "all-rounder," comparing his judicial acuity and cricketing ability. "Batting with the Constitution, fielding with fundamental rights, and bowling with justice," Dave injected a dry comment, triggering smiles on the Bench.
Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, otherwise critical of the judiciary's hesitancy in matters of progress, could not conceal her respect. "Two greats retired this week," she tweeted, "Virat Kohli and CJI Khanna."
Institutional Impact
Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna's office also witnessed far-reaching institutional change. He encouraged digitization of court documents, transparency of Collegium orders, and speedy listing of cases pending. During his time, the Supreme Court made more ambitious efforts at transparency, both inside and outside society.
He also played a key role in unifying legal aid services and wider access to justice. His conviction that the Supreme Court of India should not only be a court of last resort, but a "people's court" was reflected in a series of policy initiatives, particularly on behalf of rural litigants and destitute prisoners.
A Legacy of Balance and Brilliance
What made Chief Justice Khanna stand out was the combination of his legal brilliance, emotional sensitivity and spiritual balance. He demonstrated that one could be correct but not stubborn, sensitive but not impressionable.
His style of adjudication was neither activist nor conservative—it was situational, root-oriented, and foremost, moral. He never craved attention; and yet his decisions generated them. He never wanted to be liked; and yet he inspired lasting respect.
As Chief Justice of India, he was not a judge but a mentor, a role model, and a masterful reformer.
Conclusion: More Than a Judge
As the curtain falls on Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna's Bench career, all that is left behind is a legacy that reaches far beyond law reports and case digests. His tale—a tale of adversity, grittiness, and pride—will continue to inspire lawyers and judges for years to come.
He reminded us that the Supreme Court of India is not only a constitutional institution—it is a temple of justice, constructed not of marble and statues, but of values. And during his tenure as Justice Sanjiv Khanna and later Chief Justice of India, he was one of its most devout priests.
As he himself told a recalcitrant clerk who wouldn't advise him to use his own car: "It's just a car." Those exact words, spoken as they were by one of the most senior judges of this nation, spoke volumes for the man in the robe.
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