Justices Dinesh Maheshwari, Sanjiv Khanna sworn in as SC judges

NEW DELHI: Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Friday took over as judges of the Supreme Court, even as the controversy over the Collegium’s decision to ignore several senior judges continued to rage in legal circles.

With the appointment of the two judges, the total number of judges in the Supreme Court has risen to 28 against the sanctioned strength of 31 judges, including the CJI. Tribune file

Satya Prakash

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 18

Justice Dinesh Maheshwari and Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Friday took over as judges of the Supreme Court, even as the controversy over the Collegium’s decision to ignore several senior judges continued to rage in legal circles.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi administered the oath of office to Justice Maheshwari and Justice Khanna in a simple ceremony held in the jam-packed Court Number 1 of the Supreme Court.

With the appointment of the two judges, the total number of judges in the Supreme Court has risen to 28 against the sanctioned strength of 31 judges, including the CJI.

Before elevation, Justice Maheshwari was the Chief Justice of the Karnataka High Court, while Justice Khanna was a judge of the Delhi High Court. The latter’s father Justice DR Khanna too was a judge of the Delhi High Court.

Justice Sanjiv Khanna is the nephew of legendary Justice HR Khanna who is known for his famous dissenting verdict in the habeas corpus case during the Emergency. Justice HR Khanna had resigned after being superseded by Justice HM Beg’s appointment as CJI. Going by the normal course of succession, Justice Sanjiv Khanna is likely to become CJI in 2024.

After taking oath, Justice Khanna sat with Justice SA Bobde and Justice Deepak Gupta in Court Number 2, where a portrait of his uncle Justice H R Khanna adorns a wall.

The latest round of appointments hit headlines as Justice Maheshwari was not considered for elevation barely six weeks ago and Justice Ajay Rastogi – who is from the same parent High Court of Rajasthan, was elevated to the top court. In bring Justice Khanna to the Supreme Court, the Collegium by-passed several judges senior to him.

The Collegium’s January 10 decision on elevation of Justice Maheshwari and Justice Khanna had come as surprise to many as in its December 12, 2018, meeting it was said to have considered Rajasthan High Court Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and Delhi High Court Chief Justice Rajendra Menon for elevation.

Supreme Court Judge Sanjay Kishan Kaul had reportedly circulated a note to the Collegium comprising CJI Gogoi and justices AK Sikri, SA Bobde, NV Ramana and Arun Mishra against ignoring senior judges for elevation as it would send a wrong signal.

Former Delhi High Court judge Kailash Gambhir, Bar Council of India BCI, Bar Council of Delhi and senior advocate Meet Malhotra had protested the Collegium’s decision.