Today, On 24th November, Justice Surya Kant took oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marking a significant moment for the judiciary. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath as he formally succeeded outgoing CJI BR Gavai on Monday.
New Delhi: : Justice Surya Kant was sworn as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Kant, who takes over from Justice B.R. Gavai.
Justice Kant steps into the highest judicial role following Justice Gavai’s retirement.
His term as Chief Justice will last until February 9, 2027, giving him over 14 months to implement administrative reforms and guide the Supreme Court’s judicial agenda.
A notable aspect of the ceremony was the attendance of a delegation of judges from Bhutan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, highlighting international judicial cooperation.
His life story is one of ambition and ascent, from a modest background in Haryana to the highest judicial position in the country.
Born in 1971 in Hisar district, Surya Kant was the first in his family to pursue law. He studied at Government College, Hisar, and later earned his LLB from Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak.
Unlike many in the higher judiciary who come from families with deep legal roots, Justice Surya Kant entered the profession without any inherited advantages. His early career began as a litigator in the district courts in Hisar in 1984, marking him as a self-made lawyer.
His rise in Haryana’s legal circles was swift. His sharp legal mind and reputation for eloquence helped him gain recognition, eventually leading to his appointment as Advocate General for Haryana in 2000, at just 38 years of age.
After four years as Advocate General, Kant was elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in January 2004. Known for his clear judgments and detailed reasoning, he was seen as a judge with a deep understanding of both constitutional and criminal law.
In October 2018, he became the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, where he served until May 2019, before being elevated to the Supreme Court of India.
Justice Kant has authored several notable judgments on education rights, environmental protection, and social justice.
One of his key rulings as a High Court judge addressed irregularities in school admissions, calling for transparency and fairness. His judgments often emphasize equitable governance and constitutional morality, principles he has cited repeatedly in his court opinions.
As a Supreme Court judge, Justice Surya Kant has been part of benches that decided critical issues, including:
- Judicial review of government decisions during emergencies
- Environmental protection cases involving large-scale industrial projects
- Criminal jurisprudence on bail, sentencing, and victims’ rights
He is often regarded as a balanced and pragmatic judge, inclined toward reasoned justice rather than judicial populism.
Justice Kant’s speeches and rulings often stress “constitutional values over political expediency.” He has advocated for ethical public service, transparency in administration, and the judiciary’s role in defending fundamental rights.
He once remarked in a lecture that,
“The Constitution is not a piece of paper but a living conscience that binds power with morality.”
India’s judiciary, where regional advocates can rise to the nation’s highest judicial office.
During his time as a Supreme Court judge, Justice Kant has presided over several pivotal cases, including:
- Electoral Integrity: Justice Kant led a bench examining petitions related to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, emphasizing the Election Commission’s responsibility to ensure accurate voter registration.
- Cyber Crime & “Digital Arrests”: In response to the growing issue of “digital arrest” scams, his bench took suo motu cognizance, issuing notices to all States and Union Territories to gather data on FIRs in order to create a unified legal framework.
- Social Media Responsibility: Justice Kant has firmly asserted the accountability of social media influencers. In a recent case, he noted that freedom of speech entails duty, stating that content causing societal embarrassment or reflecting a “pervert mind” would be dealt with strictly.
- Human Rights & Prison Reform: While serving as a High Court judge, he delivered a landmark ruling in the Jasvir Singh case, mandating the establishment of a Jail Reforms Committee and affirming the right of inmates to conjugal visits as part of their fundamental right to life.
From being the first lawyer in his family to serving as CJI-designate, Justice Surya Kant’s story embodies the transformation.
He continued his judicial career, serving as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court before being elevated to the Supreme Court of India in May 2019.
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