New Delhi: Justice Surya Kant on Monday formally assumed charge as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI), marking the beginning of a 14-month term leading the country’s highest court. The oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu during a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, a day after outgoing CJI Bhushan R. Gavai retired upon turning 65.
Justice Kant’s elevation followed the longstanding seniority convention, with former CJI Gavai recommending his name under Article 124(2) of the Constitution. His appointment was officially notified on October 30.
A judge known for his clarity of thought and strong constitutional grounding, Justice Surya Kant has played a key role in several nationally significant decisions. His judicial track record includes contributions to the verdict on the abrogation of Article 370, scrutiny of the Bihar electoral rolls revision, and the high-profile Pegasus spyware inquiry.
Born on February 10, 1962, in Haryana’s Hisar district, Justice Kant rose from modest beginnings to the highest judicial office in India. After obtaining his law qualification, he went on to secure the top position — ‘first class first’ — in his Master of Laws degree from Kurukshetra University in 2011.
Justice Kant’s early judicial career saw him deliver several impactful rulings as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He later served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court beginning October 5, 2018, before being elevated to the Supreme Court.
During his tenure in the apex court, he has been part of benches that shaped major constitutional and civil liberties decisions. He was a member of the bench that suspended the operation of the colonial-era sedition law and ordered that no new FIRs be filed until the government completes its review.
