Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna bid a farewell at the Supreme Court on Tuesday morning as he formally handed over the reins to his successor, Justice BR Gavai. The ceremonial bench, held in a packed courtroom, witnessed heartfelt tributes from across the legal fraternity, with senior lawyers, law officers and young advocates honouring CJI Khanna’s distinguished judicial career.
CJI Khanna, in his farewell speech, remarked on the importance of public trust in the judiciary, noting that such trust must be earned and not demanded. “Once you are a lawyer, you remain a lawyer,” he said. “Public trust in the judiciary cannot be commanded, it has to be earned. And we earn it through the conduct of both the bench and the bar. The judiciary is not just the judges but also the advocates. You are a built-in check, a conscience-keeper,” Live Law quoted Chief Justice Khanna as saying.
The Live Law further reported that Attorney General R Venkataramani praised CJI Khanna for his clarity of thought and unwavering dedication to civil liberties and institutional transparency. He called the outgoing CJI a guardian of constitutional values. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta echoed this sentiment, saying that CJI Khanna’s crisp judgments and patient hearings set a high bar for judicial conduct. “He would have made his uncle, Justice HR Khanna, immensely proud,” Mehta said.
Senior Advocate and Supreme Court Bar Association President Kapil Sibal said that CJI Khanna’s decisions reflected profound legal understanding across all domains of law. “Your encouragement of young advocates to rise and argue defines the best qualities of a judge. You embody what truly matters in our judiciary,” Sibal said, Live Law quoted.
Senior Advocate Dushyant Dave added a lighter note with a cricketing metaphor, calling CJI Khanna a judicial all-rounder. “You batted with the Constitution in your hand, fielded with fundamental rights and bowled with justice in your eyes,” he said.
Incoming Chief Justice BR Gavai paid tribute to CJI Khanna’s calm temperament and deep commitment to transparency. He said the recent Full Court resolution to publish judges’ assets as a legacy-defining move, reflecting CJI Khanna’s push for openness. “He is a gentleman in the truest sense – humble, fair and consistently mindful of human rights,” Justice Gavai said, Live Law reported.