Sanjiv Khanna Biography 2025 Net Worth, Age, Height, Weight, Family & More Details

Sanjiv Khanna, born on May 14, 1960, is a judge of the Supreme Court of India and a former judge of the Delhi High Court, a position previously held by his father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna. He also serves as the ex officio executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority and is set to become the 51st Chief Justice of India. He was enrolled as an Advocate with the Bar Council of Delhi in 1983. On June 24, 2005, he was appointed as an additional judge of the Delhi High Court, becoming a permanent judge on February 20, 2006.

Sanjiv Khanna Biography 2025

Khanna was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on January 18, 2019. He is in line to succeed the current Chief Justice, Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, upon his retirement. Additionally, Khanna is the nephew of former Supreme Court Justice Hans Raj Khanna, who is known for establishing the basic structure doctrine in 1973 and for his dissenting opinion in the landmark Habeas Corpus case, ADM Jabalpur v. Shiv Kant Shukla, in 1976. Justice Hans Raj Khanna was controversially superseded for the position of Chief Justice of India by M. H. Beg at the request of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, leading him to resign from the court in early 1977.

WhatsApp Channel Join Button

Sanjiv Khanna Biography Details

Born 14 May 1960 (age 64)
New Delhi, India
Relations Hans Raj Khanna (uncle)
Alma mater University of Delhi

Sanjiv Khanna Early Life

Khanna completed his schooling at Modern School in New Delhi, graduating in 1977. He earned his undergraduate degree from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, in 1980, and later studied law at the Campus Law Centre of the Faculty of Law, University of Delhi. His father, Justice Dev Raj Khanna, retired from the Delhi High Court in 1985, while his mother, Saroj Khanna, was a Hindi lecturer at Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi.

Sanjiv Khanna Physical Attributes

Feature Measurement
Height 175 cm (5′ 9″)
Weight 70 kg (154 lbs)
Eye Colour Black
Hair Colour Black

Judicial Service Timeline

Service Years Position
1983-2025 Various Judicial Roles
1983 Enrolled Advocate, Bar Council of Delhi
2005 Additional Judge, Delhi High Court
2006 Permanent Judge, Delhi High Court
2019 Judge, Supreme Court of India
2025 Chief Justice of India

Notable Judgments

Case Name Key Ruling
Shilpa Sailesh v Varun Sreenivasan Supreme Court can grant divorce under Article 142 for irretrievable breakdown of marriage.
CPIO v Subhash Chandra Agarwal Office of the Chief Justice is subject to RTI, but privacy must be safeguarded.

Notable Dissents

Case Name Key Dissent
Amish Devgan vs Union of India Emphasized that freedom of speech cannot infringe upon the right to privacy.
Revising Fee Scale for Arbitrators Asserted the arbitral tribunal’s authority to determine reasonable fees in absence of an agreement.

Personal Information

Feature Details
Date of Birth May 14, 1960
Age 64 Years (as of 2025)
Birthplace Delhi, India
Zodiac Sign Taurus

Educational Background

Institution Degree
Modern School, Barakhamba Road, Delhi High School
St. Stephen’s College, Delhi Graduation (1980)
Campus Law Centre, Delhi University LLB

Family Details

Relation Name
Spouse Name not disclosed
Children One Son (name not disclosed)
Father Justice Dev Raj Khanna (deceased)
Mother Saroj Khanna (Hindi Lecturer)
Siblings One Brother
Other Relatives Justice Hans Raj Khanna (uncle)

Financial Overview of Sanjiv Khanna

Asset Type Description
Residential Property Three-bedroom DDA flat in South Delhi
House 326 sq. yards house in East Delhi (jointly owned)
Ancestral Property House in Dalhousie, Himachal Pradesh

Career Highlights of Sanjiv Khanna

Year Achievement
1983 Enrolled as Advocate
2005 Elevated to Additional Judge
2006 Became Permanent Judge
2019 Appointed as Judge of Supreme Court
2025 Assumed role of Chief Justice of India

Judicial Philosophy of Sanjiv Khanna

Principle Description
Judicial Independence Stresses the need for judicial accountability alongside independence.
Right to Privacy Advocates for protecting individual privacy in judicial proceedings.
Access to Justice Supports initiatives to enhance legal aid and access to justice for all.

Major Contributions to Legal Reform

Initiative Description
Promoting RTI Advocated for transparency in judicial processes.
Enhancing Legal Aid Worked towards strengthening legal aid services.

Recent Cases Involving Sanjiv Khanna

Date Case Name Outcome
2025-10-24 IND Women vs NZ Women [Details of case outcome]
2025-09-29 IND Women vs WI Women [Details of case outcome]

Sanjiv Khanna Net Worth

His current net worth is approximately INR 300 Cr.

Sanjiv Khanna Summary

Sanjiv Khanna’s tenure as a judge and Chief Justice of India has been marked by significant contributions to Indian law, particularly through his judicious rulings on fundamental rights and judicial independence. His background and experiences uniquely position him to influence the future of the judiciary in India, ensuring justice is upheld while balancing individual rights and societal needs.

WhatsApp Channel Join Button