Justice Sanjiv Khanna took oath as the _____ Chief Justice of India on November 11, 2024.

Correct option is D

The correct answer is (d) 51st

Explanation:

• Justice Sanjiv Khanna took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI) on November 11, 2024.
• He succeeded Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who retired on November 10, 2024.

Information Booster:

Chief Justice of India (CJI):

Qualifications

To be eligible for appointment as the CJI, a person must:

• Be a citizen of India
• Have served as a High Court judge for at least 5 years
• OR been an advocate in a High Court for at least 10 years
• OR be a distinguished jurist, as per the President’s opinion

Appointment

• Appointed by the President under Article 124(2) of the Constitution
• Based on seniority, the outgoing CJI recommends the successor
• Law Minister forwards the name to the Prime Minister, who advises the President
• As per the Second Judges Case (1993), senior-most Supreme Court judge is appointed as CJI

Removal

• A Supreme Court judge (including the CJI) can be removed by the President, after a special majority vote in both Houses of Parliament
• Grounds under Article 124(4):
• Proven misbehavior
• Incapacity

Collegium System

What is it?

A judge-appointing mechanism, evolved through Supreme Court judgments (not a law).

For Supreme Court Appointments

• CJI + 4 senior-most SC judges

For High Court Appointments

• At HC level: Chief Justice of HC + 2 senior-most HC judges
• At SC level: CJI + 2 senior-most SC judges