CJI’s Amritsar connect: His pre-Independence house

Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who was on Monday sworn in as the 51st Chief Justice of India, has been trying to locate a pre-Independence building in Amritsar constructed by his grandfather Sarav Dayal.

Dayal, a famous lawyer of his time, had built the house in Katra Sher Singh, sources said. Unfortunately, the CJI has been unable to locate that house as the area has changed a lot, they added.

The house was set on fire during the Partition but it was restored by his grandfather, before being sold in 1970. CJI Khanna, who has fond memories of the house he visited once as a five-year-old child with his father, tries to locate the house in Katra Sher Singh whenever he is in Amritsar.

Born on May 14, 1960, he was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on January 18, 2019. Justice Khanna will have a six-month tenure as the CJI. He will retire on May 13, 2025.

President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Khanna on Monday in a brief swearing-in ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan at 10.30 am.

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, outgoing CJI DY Chandrachud, ministers and sitting and former judges attended the five-minute ceremony.

After being administered the oath of office as the 51st CJI by President Murmu, the CJI went to the Supreme Court where he received a rousing welcome by lawyers, including former Attorney General and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi.

Sharing the Bench in court no. 1 with Justice Manoj Misra, CJI Khanna heard 45 cases on his first day and thanked advocates and bar leaders for wishing him well.