Justice Surya Kant will assume office as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on Monday, succeeding Justice B R Gavai. Known for landmark rulings on Article 370, Pegasus, and electoral reforms, his tenure is expected to shape key constitutional outcomes.
Justice Surya Kant, a senior judge known for his role in several historic and constitutionally important decisions, will take oath on Monday as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. He will replace Justice B R Gavai, who is stepping down this evening after completing his term as the head of the Indian judiciary.
Appointed as the next Chief Justice of India on October 30, Justice Kant will serve in this top constitutional position for nearly 15 months. His tenure will continue until February 9, 2027, when he retires on reaching the age of 65.
Born on February 10, 1962, in the Hisar district of Haryana, Justice Kant comes from a modest middle-class background. His journey from practising law in a small town to becoming the Chief Justice of India reflects years of dedication, discipline, and legal excellence.
He has consistently demonstrated academic brilliance, securing the distinction of being ‘first class first’ in his Master’s degree in Law from Kurukshetra University in 2011.
Over the years, Justice Kant has played a significant role in shaping Indian constitutional jurisprudence. Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, he served as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court, a position he took charge of on October 5, 2018.
During his tenure at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he authored several landmark judgments that were widely noted for their clarity and balanced approach to justice.
As a Supreme Court judge, his contributions have been particularly impactful in matters involving national importance. He has been part of benches that delivered key verdicts on the abrogation of Article 370, free speech, and citizenship rights.
His judicial career reflects a strong commitment to constitutional values, democratic principles, and the protection of individual rights.
Justice Kant also took part in the important presidential reference concerning the powers of the Governor and the President in dealing with bills passed by state legislatures. This decision is eagerly awaited as it could significantly influence Centre-state relations and constitutional functioning across the country.
In one of his notable orders, he was part of the bench that put the colonial-era sedition law on hold, directing that no new cases be registered under it until the government completes its review process.
This decision was seen as a major step towards safeguarding civil liberties and preventing misuse of outdated laws.
While hearing petitions related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, Justice Kant urged the Election Commission to release clear details regarding the deletion of 65 lakh voters, showing his concern for transparency and fairness in the democratic process.
His judgments have also focused on social justice and gender equality. In a case highlighting discrimination, he led a bench that restored a woman sarpanch who had been unfairly removed from her post, firmly addressing the gender bias involved in the matter.
He further strengthened women’s representation in the legal profession by directing that one-third of seats in bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association, be reserved for women.
Justice Kant was also part of the bench that appointed a five-member committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra to investigate the security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab in 2022.
In this case, the bench observed that such sensitive matters required “a judicially trained mind”.
He has delivered significant rulings in defence-related matters as well. He upheld the One Rank-One Pension (OROP) scheme, declaring it constitutionally valid, and continues to hear petitions by women officers seeking equal opportunities and permanent commission in the armed forces.
Justice Kant also served on the seven-judge bench that overturned the 1967 judgment related to Aligarh Muslim University, paving the way for fresh consideration of its minority status. This ruling reopened a long-standing constitutional debate with wide social implications.
In the Pegasus spyware case, he was part of the bench that ordered an independent enquiry by appointing a panel of cyber experts to examine allegations of illegal surveillance.
During the proceedings, he made the strong observation that the state cannot get a
“free pass under the guise of national security”.
Throughout his long judicial journey, Justice Surya Kant has built a reputation for fairness, integrity, and constitutional sensitivity.
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