Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna said goodbye to his colleagues at the Supreme Court today as he retired and handed over the role to Justice BR Gavai. Speaking during a special farewell ceremony, CJI Khanna became emotional and found it hard to express himself fully, but he praised his successor. He said that public trust in the judiciary is not something that can be demanded, it must be earned. “The Supreme Court has earned that trust,” he added.

“I am speechless. I have so many memories. Once you are a lawyer, you always remain a lawyer,” CJI Khanna said, addressing the gathering. He also pointed out that the term ‘judiciary’ includes both judges (the Bench) and lawyers (the Bar), and said lawyers play an important role as the “conscience keepers” of the system.
He also pointed out how judges come from different walks of life, and this diversity helps improve the court’s decisions.

Talking about Justice B.R. Gavai, the new Chief Justice, he said Gavai has been his biggest support. “You will have a great CJI in him. He will protect people’s rights and freedoms,” he said. Speaking to the media later in the day, Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna humbly said he cannot be compared to his uncle, Justice HR Khanna, who served on the Supreme Court during the difficult years between 1971 and 1977. “I can't compare myself with HR Khanna. Those were different times. He had a great mind,” said CJI Khanna.

His retirement marks the end of a 20-year journey as a judge. He began as an Additional Judge of the Delhi High Court in 2005 and became a permanent judge in 2006. In 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court, and he became the Chief Justice of India in November 2023.

During his time at the top court, Justice Khanna was part of several important rulings. These included the Article 370 case, the decriminalisation of adultery, decisions related to the electoral bonds scheme, and the case concerning EVM and VVPAT vote counts. Justice BR Gavai will take over as the 52nd Chief Justice of India and is set to take the oath tomorrow.