Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna bids farewell with glowing tributes
As Justice Khanna retires, Justice Gavai will succeed him as CJI on May 14
Amid the rich accolades on his last day in the Supreme Court, an emotive Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday (May 13) said he issure his successor Justice BR Gavai will uphold the values of fundamental rights and basic constitutional doctrines.
A ceremonial bench comprised the outgoing chief justice, Justice Gavai and Justice Sanjay Kumar showcased a rare moment of celebration and reverence not just for Justice Khanna's contributions but the legacy of his uncle, former Supreme Court judge Justice HR Khanna.
CJI praises Justice Gavai
Chief justice Sanjiv Khanna called Justice Gavai his "biggest support" while expressing confidence in the latter's leadership and commitment to constitutional values.
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"What to say about justice and CJI designate Gavai? We got elevated the same year. Here we are in the collegium, and thereafter, we have interacted on several occasions. I must say he has been my biggest support. I am sure that you have in Justice Gavai an excellent chief justice who's going to uphold the institution and the fundamental rights (and) our basic doctrines which we have adopted and applied," he said.
Emphasising the role of the bar and the bench in earning public trust, he said: "The judiciary is not just judges; it includes the bar. You are the conscious keepers of the system."
He lauded the collegiality among judges from diverse regions and backgrounds, saying such diversity allowed for richer deliberations and more nuanced decisions.
Diversity among judges
"Another thing is the biggest plus factor in this court. We have judges from different parts of the country, and they with different thought processes, different backgrounds, they are able to when we discuss, we are able to find a lot of solutions. We were able to find out the right path," he said.
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Justice Gavai, who will assume the office of chief justice on May 14, said Justice Khanna "embraced his legacy" and built his own.
He called it not a farewell but a transition. "What ends today is not a career, but the beginning of another."
Justice Gavai lauds CJI
Justice Gavai acknowledged the weight of legacy Justice Khanna bore as the nephew of Justice H R Khanna, the lone dissenter in the 1976 ADM Jabalpur case who stood for constitutional rights during the Emergency rule.
"To walk in the shadow of such a name is no small task," he said, "but Justice Sanjiv Khanna did more than uphold that legacy he made it his own."
Justice Gavai praised his predecessor for his clarity, moral conviction and commitment to fundamental rights, describing his judgments as "simple, elegant and imbued with constitutional values".
‘A walking encyclopaedia’
He also recalled their collegial relationship, noting their shared journey from elevation to the Supreme Court to collegium deliberations. "It has been a privilege," he said.
Justice Sanjay Kumar, who sat alongside the chief justice for over 10 months, provided heartfelt insights into Justice Khanna's working style.
"He doesn't make notes. Everything: page numbers, paragraph numbers, contents come from memory," he said.