Notably, when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister, Justice Khanna’s uncle, Justice Hans Raj Khanna dissented over Emergency and argued for upholding civil liberties even during Emergency

 Notably, when Indira Gandhi was Prime Minister, Justice Khanna’s uncle, Justice Hans Raj Khanna dissented over Emergency and argued for upholding civil liberties even during Emergency.

He was the lone dissenting judge who claimed that Article 21 of the Constitution could not possibly be the sole repository of the fundamental rights to life and liberty, which are inalienable.

Later, Khanna was bypassed to the office of the CJI, against the convention of appointing the senior-most judge as the next CJI and Justice Mirza Hameedullah Beg became the CJI.

This was perceived as a repercussion of his dissenting opinion against Indira Gandhi, which affected his judicial career, depriving him of the position of the CJI.