Learn about the Chief Justice of India, including the new CJI of India, CJI Sanjiv Khanna, and the 51st Chief Justice of India.
theIAShub | 24 Feb, 2025 | 570 | 0
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the head of the Indian judiciary and the Supreme Court of India. As the highest-ranking judge, the CJI plays a crucial role in upholding the Constitution and interpreting laws. This article covers the new CJI of India, CJI Sanjiv Khanna, and the 51st Chief Justice of India, along with insights into the appointment process, qualifications, and responsibilities.
The President of India appoints the Chief Justice of India based on seniority among Supreme Court judges. The outgoing CJI recommends their successor, and the appointment follows consultation with senior judges and the government. This ensures continuity and stability in the judiciary.
As per Article 124(3) of the Constitution of India, a person must meet the following qualifications to become the Chief Justice of India:
Traditionally, the most senior Supreme Court judge is appointed as the CJI, ensuring a fair and consistent selection process.
Before assuming office, the Chief Justice of India takes an oath administered by the President. The Chief Justice of India oath includes a commitment to uphold the Constitution, perform duties impartially, and protect the integrity of the judiciary. This solemn promise ensures that the judiciary functions independently and fairly.
The oath, as per the Third Schedule of the Constitution of India, is:
“I, [Name], having been appointed Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India, do swear in the name of God/solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India as by law established, that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, that I will duly and faithfully and to the best of my ability, knowledge and judgment perform the duties of my office without fear or favor, affection or ill-will and that I will uphold the Constitution and the laws.”
The table includes their names and tenure:
| No. | Name | Tenure |
| 1 | Harilal J. Kania | 26 Jan 1950 – 6 Nov 1951 |
| 2 | M. Patanjali Sastri | 7 Nov 1951 – 3 Jan 1954 |
| 3 | Mehr Chand Mahajan | 4 Jan 1954 – 22 Dec 1954 |
| 4 | Bijan Kumar Mukherjea | 23 Dec 1954 – 31 Jan 1956 |
| 5 | Sudhi Ranjan Das | 1 Feb 1956 – 30 Sep 1959 |
| 6 | Bhuvaneshwar Prasad Sinha | 1 Oct 1959 – 31 Jan 1964 |
| 7 | P. B. Gajendragadkar | 1 Feb 1964 – 15 Mar 1966 |
| 8 | Amal Kumar Sarkar | 16 Mar 1966 – 29 June 1966 |
| 9 | Koka Subba Rao | 30 June 1966 – 11 Apr 1967 |
| 10 | Kailas Nath Wanchoo | 12 Apr 1967 – 24 Feb 1968 |
| 11 | Mohammad Hidayatullah | 25 Feb 1968 – 16 Dec 1970 |
| 12 | Jayantilal Chhotalal Shah | 17 Dec 1970 – 21 Jan 1971 |
| 13 | Sarv Mittra Sikri | 22 Jan 1971 – 25 Apr 1973 |
| 14 | Ajit Nath Ray | 26 Apr 1973 – 27 Jan 1977 |
| 15 | Mirza Hameedullah Beg | 28 Jan 1977 – 21 Feb 1978 |
| 16 | Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud | 22 Feb 1978 – 11 July 1985 |
| 17 | Prafullachandra Natwarlal Bhagwati | 12 July 1985 – 20 Dec 1986 |
| 18 | Raghunandan Swarup Pathak | 21 Dec 1986 – 18 June 1989 |
| 19 | Engalaguppe Seetharamaiah Venkataramiah | 19 June 1989 – 17 Dec 1989 |
| 20 | Sabyasachi Mukharji | 18 Dec 1989 – 25 Sep 1990 |
| 21 | Ranganath Misra | 26 Sep 1990 – 24 Nov 1991 |
| 22 | Kamal Narain Singh | 25 Nov 1991 – 12 Dec 1991 |
| 23 | Madhukar Hiralal Kania | 13 Dec 1991 – 17 Nov 1992 |
| 24 | Lalit Mohan Sharma | 18 Nov 1992 – 11 Feb 1993 |
| 25 | M. N. Venkatachaliah | 12 Feb 1993 – 24 Oct 1994 |
| 26 | Aziz Mushabber Ahmadi | 25 Oct 1994 – 24 Mar 1997 |
| 27 | Jagdish Sharan Verma | 25 Mar 1997 – 17 Jan 1998 |
| 28 | Madan Mohan Punchhi | 18 Jan 1998 – 9 Oct 1998 |
| 29 | Adarsh Sein Anand | 10 Oct 1998 – 11 Jan 2001 |
| 30 | Sam Piroj Bharucha | 11 Jan 2001 – 6 May 2002 |
| 31 | Bhupinder Nath Kirpal | 6 May 2002 – 8 Nov 2002 |
| 32 | Gopal Ballav Pattanaik | 8 Nov 2002 – 19 Dec 2002 |
| 33 | V. N. Khare | 19 Dec 2002 – 2 May 2004 |
| 34 | S. Rajendra Babu | 2 May 2004 – 1 Jun 2004 |
| 35 | Ramesh Chandra Lahoti | 1 June 2004 – 1 Nov 2005 |
| 36 | Yogesh Kumar Sabharwal | 1 Nov 2005 – 14 Jan 2007 |
| 37 | K. G. Balakrishnan | 14 Jan 2007 – 12 May 2010 |
| 38 | S. H. Kapadia | 12 May 2010 – 28 Sep 2012 |
| 39 | Altamas Kabir | 29 Sep 2012 – 18 Jul 2013 |
| 40 | P. Sathasivam | 19 Jul 2013 – 26 Apr 2014 |
| 41 | Rajendra Mal Lodha | 27 Apr 2014 – 27 Sep 2014 |
| 42 | H. L. Dattu | 28 Sep 2014 – 2 Dec 2015 |
| 43 | T. S. Thakur | 3 Dec 2015 – 4 Jan 2017 |
| 44 | Jagdish Singh Khehar | 4 Jan 2017 – 28 Aug 2017 |
| 45 | Dipak Misra | 28 Aug 2017 – 2 Oct 2018 |
| 46 | Ranjan Gogoi | 3 Oct 2018 – 17 Nov 2019 |
| 47 | Sharad Arvind Bobde | 18 Nov 2019 – 23 Apr 2021 |
| 48 | N. V. Ramana | 24 Apr 2021 – 26 Aug 2022 |
| 49 | Uday Umesh Lalit | 27 Aug 2022 – 8 Nov 2022 |
| 50 | Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud | 9 Nov 2022 – Incumbent |
| 51 | Sanjiv Khanna | 11 Nov 2024 – Present |
The 51st Chief Justice of India is CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who took office in 2025. With a distinguished career in the judiciary, CJI Sanjiv Khanna has delivered several landmark judgments and contributed to legal reforms in India. His tenure is expected to focus on judicial transparency, case backlog reduction, and reinforcing constitutional values.
CJI Sanjiv Khanna assumed office as the new CJI of India following the tenure of his predecessor. Known for his deep understanding of constitutional law and commitment to judicial ethics, he has played a pivotal role in shaping the legal landscape. His leadership is expected to influence key judicial decisions and reforms.
The Chief Justice of India has several key responsibilities, including:
The CJI plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of power between the executive, legislature, and judiciary.
The retirement age of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) is 65 years, as per Article 124(2) of the Indian Constitution. This applies to all judges of the Supreme Court, while High Court judges retire at 62. Unlike some other countries, India does not allow the extension of tenure beyond the retirement age, except in specific cases where retired judges may be appointed to tribunals or other judicial bodies.
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The President of India appoints the Chief Justice based on seniority among Supreme Court judges, following recommendations from the outgoing CJI and consultation with senior judges.
The Chief Justice of India retires at the age of 65, as per Article 124(2) of the Indian Constitution.
The Chief Justice of India oath, as per the Third Schedule of the Constitution, includes a pledge to uphold the Constitution of India, maintain judicial integrity, and perform duties without bias.
To become Chief Justice of India, a person must be a citizen of India, have served as a High Court judge for five years or as an advocate for ten years, or be a distinguished jurist in the opinion of the President of India.
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