CJI Sanjiv Khanna in search of his 'missing' ancestral house in Amritsar

Justice Sanjiv Khanna who took oath as the 51st Chief Justice of India on Monday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other prominent persons wishing him well, has been searching for his "missing" ancestral home in Amritsar that was built by his grandfather, Sarav Dayal.

As per a report in NDTV, Justice Khanna makes a stop at Katra Sher Singh whenever he visits Amritsar as he tries to find the house built by his grandfather despite the several changes that place has gone through.

CJI Khanna's grandfather Sarav Dayal was reportedly a celebrated lawyer who was also a part of the Congress committee formed for the Jallianwala Bagh incident of 1919.

Dayal had bought two houses back in the day, one in Himachal Pradesh's Dalhousie and another near Jallianwala Bagh in Katra Sher Singh — this is the one that Justice Khanna is trying to locate.

The house in Amritsar was reportedly burnt down during independence in 1947, however, his grandfather later restored it. At the age of 5, Justice Khanna with his father visited this house, which had a signboard that read - 'Bauji', meaning grandfather. This is that same sign that their house in Dalhousie bears.

However, it is believed that the house in Katra Sher Singh was sold in 1970 after Sarav Dayal passed away.

On his first day as the 51st Chief Justice of India (CJI), Justice Sanjiv Khanna heard 45 cases, and thanked lawyers and bar leaders for wishing him well.

CJI Khanna entered the hallowed CJI's courtroom around noon after being sworn by President Droupadi Murmu in a brief ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He heard 45 cases on his first day as the CJI and thanked lawyers and bar leaders for wishing him well.

He received a rousing welcome by the bar leaders, lawyers including former attorney general and senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi.

Born on May 14, 1960, CJI Khanna will serve on the post for a little over six months and demit office on May 13, 2025 up on attaining the age of 65.

He succeeded Justice D Y Chandrachud who demitted office on Sunday.

(With PTI inputs)