In a landmark judicial transition, Justice Surya Kant has been sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on November 24, 2025, taking over from Justice B. R. Gavai. The oath was administered by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan in a ceremony attended by top dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Justice Surya Kant's term as CJI is set to last for nearly 15 months, concluding on February 9, 2027, when he attains the retirement age of 65.

Union Law Minister said on his X account, “In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court, as the Chief Justice of India with effect from November 24, 2025.”

Judicial Journey and Background

Born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar, Haryana, Justice Surya Kant comes from a modest background. He began practicing law in Hisar and went on to serve as Advocate General of Haryana. He was elevated as a judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court in 2004, later became Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2018, and was appointed to the Supreme Court in May 2019.

Academically, Justice Kant has shown impressive performance. He ranked “first class first” in his LLM from Kurukshetra University in 2011.

Key Judgments and Legal Legacy

During his judicial career, Justice Surya Kant has been part of several high-profile and constitutionally significant rulings:

• He was on the bench that dealt with the abrogation of Article 370, which removed Jammu & Kashmir’s special status.

• He contributed to decisions on One Rank, One Pension (OROP) for defence personnel.

• He played a role in the Pegasus spyware case, stressing that national security cannot justify unfettered state surveillance.

• He has also been involved in electoral reform matters, including the revision of Bihar’s voter rolls.

These rulings underscore his strong judicial reasoning and commitment to constitutional law, social justice, and civil liberties.

Priorities as CJI & Future Outlook

In his first remarks as Chief Justice, Justice Kant indicated reducing case backlog in the Supreme Court and lower courts as a top priority. He also committed to strengthening alternative dispute resolution (ADR) mechanisms like mediation to ease the burden on the judiciary.

He has announced plans to constitute Constitution Benches (with five, seven, and nine judges) to address major pending constitutional matters.

Significance of the Appointment

Justice Surya Kant’s elevation to Chief Justice of India marks a critical moment for India’s judiciary. Given his track record in landmark cases concerning human rights, digital privacy, and constitutional governance, his tenure is being watched closely by legal experts, civil society, and political stakeholders alike.

His 15-month term could be pivotal, especially as the country navigates pressing legal issues like electoral reform, data regulation, and the balance between state power and individual rights.

As Justice Kant assumes the highest judicial office, citizens, lawyers, and policymakers will keenly observe how he steers the Supreme Court of India through this transformative period.