Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India by President Droupadi Murmu, beginning his 14-month tenure. He succeeds Justice BR Gavai. Known for his extensive judicial career, CJI Kant has prioritised reducing pendency and strengthening India’s court system
Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. Pic/PTI
President Droupadi Murmu on Monday administered the oath of office to Justice Surya Kant as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI). The oath ceremony marked the beginning of his 14-month tenure in the country's highest judicial office.
CJI Kant succeeds Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, who demitted the CJI’s office on Sunday upon attaining the age of 65, as reported by IANS.
Upholding convention, former CJI BR Gavai had earlier recommended Justice Kant, who was already the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor.
As reported by news agency IANS, the President had appointed Justice Kant as the next CJI “in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution”, following the recommendation sent by the outgoing Chief Justice of India.
CJI Surya Kant started his career at Hisar
Born on February 10, 1962, in a middle-class family in Haryana, Justice Surya Kant began his legal practice in Hisar in 1984 before moving to Chandigarh to appear before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Over the years, CJI Surya Kant has handled a broad range of constitutional, service and civil matters, representing universities, boards, corporations, banks and even the High Court itself.
As reported by news agency IANS, Surya Kant was appointed the youngest Advocate General of Haryana in July 2000, designated a senior advocate in 2001, and then further elevated as a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004.
CJI Surya Kant later became the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh HC
Surya Kant later served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from October 2018 until his elevation to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.
Since November 2024, he has been serving as Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. He had earlier been a two-term member of the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and is associated with various judicial and legal service institutions.
While talking to the media before assuming the charge, the CJI emphasised that “reducing pendency in the Supreme Court and courts nationwide would be his foremost priority,” as cited by news agency IANS.
One of his first steps, he said, would be to engage with High Courts to identify systemic challenges affecting district and subordinate courts.
(With inputs from IANS)
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