The Delhi High Court Chief Justice praised Chief Justice of India Surya Kant’s journey from a district court lawyer to the top judicial post, calling it a shining example of merit over privilege. He said the CJI’s life proves that hard work, conviction, and humility can break every glass ceiling in the judiciary.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court, Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya, on Monday paid rich tributes to Justice Surya Kant, stating that his life journey demonstrates that hard work and persistence can overcome privilege and background advantages.
Justice Upadhyaya was speaking at a felicitation programme organised by the Delhi Bar Council in the premises of the Delhi High Court, to honour Justice Surya Kant on his elevation as the 53rd Chief Justice of India.
Praising the CJI’s inspiring rise, Justice Upadhyaya highlighted that Justice Surya Kant is a first-generation lawyer who began his career in the district courts of Hisar in Haryana and rose to the highest constitutional position in the country purely on merit.
He said that Justice Surya Kant’s journey is a powerful example for young lawyers across India who come from non-privileged backgrounds and have no family connections in the legal profession.
Explaining this journey, Justice Upadhyaya said,
“Being a first generation lawyer who commenced his journey from the corridors of the district courts at Hisar can only be imagined with his leap of faith that he must have taken in going to Chandigarh to set up his own practice in those days, he had no generational backing when he commenced his journey, but he had the right conviction to create his own launch pad,”.
He further added that Justice Surya Kant not only succeeded in building his career independently but also broke long-standing barriers in the legal system. Justice Upadhyaya said,
“He not only excelled in doing so, but ended up shattering the glass ceiling by becoming the youngest Advocate General for the state of Haryana. For those youngsters who are going through such difficult journeys, this is Justice Surya Kant’s story,”.
Justice Upadhyaya also spoke about the personal qualities of the Chief Justice of India and said that humility is what truly sets him apart. Stressing on the values Justice Surya Kant represents, he said,
“This journey should tell you that persistence always beats privileges, friends. I would also use the opportunity to share that what sets Justice Surya Kant apart is his remarkable humility and manner in which he puts everyone around him at ease,”.
Highlighting the grounded nature of the CJI even after reaching the highest office, Justice Upadhyaya added,
“Despite reaching the sky, he has his feet on the ground, and that tells so much about the man behind the Chief Justice,”.
At the same event, Bar Council of India Chairperson and Rajya Sabha MP Manan Kumar Mishra also praised Justice Surya Kant for his contribution to legal reforms and gender justice within the legal profession.
Mishra particularly highlighted Justice Surya Kant’s role in promoting women’s participation in bar bodies, saying,
“The principle that democracy must rest on fair and inclusive electoral processes, Justice Surya Kant has been a strong voice for gender justice, including directions for reservation and representation for women in bar councils and bar associations elections,”.
Justice Surya Kant took oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on November 24, 2025. His appointment marked a historic moment, especially for first-generation lawyers across the country who see his rise as proof that dedication and integrity can overcome social and professional barriers.
As a judge of the Supreme Court and later as the Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant has been part of several important and constitutionally significant verdicts.
These include decisions related to the Presidential Reference on removing timelines for Governors, the abrogation of Article 370, Bihar electoral roll revision, the Pegasus spyware case, matters concerning free speech, and cases involving citizenship rights.
His journey from a small-town district court to the highest judicial office continues to inspire young lawyers and law students, reinforcing the belief that merit, persistence, and humility remain the strongest pillars of the Indian judiciary.
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