Justice Surya Kant, a man of many firsts, rose from humble beginnings as the first lawyer in his family to become India’s first Haryanavi Chief Justice of India, marking a historic moment in the nation’s judicial journey and inspiring generations.
Justice Surya Kant, the chief justice of India designate, is a pioneer in many respects. Rising from being the first lawyer in his family, he became the youngest advocate general of Haryana and is set to make history as the first Haryanavi to assume the role of CJI in November 2025.
Born on February 10, 1962, in Petwar village in the Narnaund region of Hisar, Haryana, Justice Kant hails from humble beginnings.
His father was a Sanskrit teacher, while his mother was a homemaker. He is the youngest of five siblings. His educational journey began in a village school, leading to his LLB from MDU, Rohtak, in 1984.
Justice Kant practiced law in the district court of Hisar for one year before relocating to Chandigarh in 1985 to practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
He later earned his master’s degree in law in 2011 from the Directorate of Distance Education at Kurukshetra University while serving as a judge at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
A high court lawyer emphasized that Justice Kant’s achievements are particularly significant given that he did not emerge from the “privileged Chandigarh crowd.”
Before becoming a judge, he was known as one of the most trusted lawyers for service matters in the High Court, earning his success purely through hard work.
At just 38, he became the youngest advocate general of Haryana. In 2004, he was appointed as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court at the age of 42. After over 14 years on the bench, he was appointed chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on October 5, 2018, and became a Supreme Court judge on May 24, 2019.
Senior advocate Atul Lakhanpal, who has witnessed Justice Kant’s rise to success, said,
“I never found him wanting. As a judge, he was courageous and even in dismissal of a petition, he would give some kind of relief to the petitioner,”
Another senior advocate, Anupam Gupta, noted,
“He is intellectually keen and a serious judge with a strong reformative bent of mind,”
In his tenure at the high court, he is credited with several landmark judgments, including affirming the right of jail inmates to have conjugal visits. He was also part of the bench that mandated the sanitization of the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda in 2017, following the violence that erupted after the imprisonment of its chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, on rape charges.
He also presided over the bench addressing the notorious Bhola drug racket case in Punjab, issuing numerous directives to combat the drug menace across Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh, and overseeing their implementation for years.
A senior lawyer remarked on his “unimpeachable character,” which has allowed him to navigate various challenges.
Referring to the opposition he faced during his elevation as a high court judge and later as a Supreme Court judge, the lawyer added,
“He once shared that a single mistake by him is enough to jeopardize his career as his detractors are always looking for something against him. But he never gave them a chance,”
Back in Petwar, his brother notes that Justice Kant has maintained a lifelong interest in environmental and wildlife issues.
He has personally funded the rejuvenation of a village pond, and his family operates an NGO.
Each year, Justice Kant ensures he returns to the village for a family event honoring the top three matriculation exam scorers from both the boys’ and girls’ schools.
The Supreme Court of India is set to witness a new post as Justice Surya Kant takes oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on November 24, 2025. Known for his constitutional clarity, empathy toward social justice, and insistence on institutional accountability, Justice Kant’s elevation marks the rise of a jurist deeply rooted in both principle and pragmatism.
Outgoing Chief Justice B.R. Gavai formally recommended his name to the Centre last week, following the established Memorandum of Procedure for the appointment of the next Chief Justice. Justice Kant, currently 63, will serve a 15-month tenure till February 9, 2027.
Born on February 10, 1962, in Petwar village, Hisar district, Haryana, Justice Surya Kant’s journey reflects dedication and perseverance. A graduate of Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, and LL.B. from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak (1984), he later completed his LL.M. from Kurukshetra University in 2011, topping his batch.
He began his legal practice at the Hisar District Courts in 1984, before moving to Chandigarh, where he established a formidable reputation at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On July 7, 2000, he was appointed the youngest Advocate General of Haryana, and was designated a Senior Advocate in 2001.
He was elevated as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004, later serving as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court (October 2018 – May 2019). His elevation to the Supreme Court of India followed on May 24, 2019.
Over his two-decade judicial career, Justice Surya Kant has authored and contributed to numerous landmark rulings that have shaped India’s constitutional and social landscape.
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