New Delhi: December 26, 2006. Justice K G Balakrishnan, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, will be the new Chief Justice of India, the first-ever Dalit to occupy the coveted post. Law Ministry sources said President A P J Abdul approved the new appointment today. He replaces Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal who is retiring on January 14, 2007. A notification in this regard will be issued next week, the sources said. Balakrishnan, the 37th Chief Justice, will have a tenure of three years and four months, till May 12, 2010, the day he retires. Chief Justice Sabharwal had a tenure of 14 months while his predecessor Justice R C Lahoti had a 17 month stint. Justice Balakrishnan was appointed judge of the apex court on June 8, 2000. PTI