Major Decisions by Justice Sanjiv Khanna: Scrapping Electoral Bonds and More

Justice Sanjiv Khanna has been appointed as the 51st Chief Justice of India, with his swearing-in scheduled for November 11. He will succeed the current Chief Justice, D.Y. Chandrachud, who is set to retire upon reaching the age of 65.

Justice Chandrachud has served as Chief Justice since November 8, 2022. Justice Khanna's term will extend for just over six months, concluding on May 13, 2025.

Justice Khanna is known for his significant rulings. In 2024, he led a Division Bench that dismissed a petition from the Association for Democratic Reforms, which sought 100% VVPAT verification of votes, upholding the existing safeguards put in place by the Election Commission of India.

In another landmark ruling that year, Justice Khanna was instrumental in declaring the Electoral Bond Scheme unconstitutional. He contended that the scheme violated the right to information, as donor identities were "asymmetrically known" to bank officials, highlighting the necessity for increased transparency in electoral funding.

In 2023, Justice Khanna served on a five-judge Bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir's special status. He noted that Article 370 represented asymmetric federalism and asserted that its removal did not undermine India's federal structure.