NEW DELHI: When
Justice Sanjiv Khanna
became the CJI in November last year, many thought it was poetic justice 50 years after his uncle
Justice H R Khanna
, through a historic political blunder in 1977, was denied the top post for his courageous dissent in support of
fundamental rights
during the Emergency even though four of his cowering colleagues caved in to govt’s brute power. Justice Khanna’s tenure as the CJI was short but eventful and challenging. What brought forth his steely resolve to serve transparency and call a spade a spade was the discovery of a huge amount of cash at
Delhi high court judge
Yashwant Varma’s residence. He uploaded videos and the Delhi HC CJ’s reports on the incident on the SC website, leaving little to the imagination and winning kudos from the public for meeting challenges head on. On his last working day in the Supreme Court on Tuesday, CJI Khanna said, ”
Public trust in judiciary
cannot be commanded. It has to be earned.” With CJI-designate B R Gavai as his colleague on the ceremonial bench, Justice Khanna said, “The country is getting an excellent CJI who is going to uphold fundamental rights, rule of law and the basic doctrines of the Constitution.” He attributed his upbringing and values to his grandfather Sarav Dayal, who was an advocate and an ardent believer in interaction of children with elders. In an informal meeting with SC reporters, CJI Khanna said he won’t accept any post-retirement job but he would not give up law and do something related to law.
CJI Khanna is a man who walked alone, without security, both in the judicial arena and Lodhi
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