More than 40 years before his nephew was sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India, Justice Hans Raj Khanna was once in line for the country’s highest judicial position in 1977. On Monday, Justice Sanjiv Khanna was sworn in as the 51st CJI by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Khanna, who has previously served as a judge in both the Supreme Court and the Delhi High Court, will hold this position for a six-month term.
Back in 1977, his uncle, Justice Hans Raj Khanna, was also a contender for the same role. However, one ruling during the Emergency imposed by then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government eventually denied him the top legal position. ALSO READ | Electoral bonds, Article 370 & more: The key rulings of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, the new CJI So, what was this judgment and how did it impact his shot at becoming the CJI of India? Born in 1912, Justice Hans Raj Khanna pursued his education in Amritsar before beginning his career as a lawyer.
He was appointed as a district and sessions judge in 1952, eventually serving as a judge in the Delhi and Punjab High Courts. In 1971, he became a Supreme Court judge and was considered for the role of Chief Justice of India in 1977. In his autobiography, Justice Hans Raj Khanna recalled, “.
..On the night preceding Baisakhi, i.
e., on the night of 12th April, we were sitting in the moonlight in the compound of the bungalow while in front of us flowed the Ganges, serene and beautiful. Sitting there and watch.
