During proceedings before the Supreme Court of India, CJI Surya Kant recalled a judge once asking whether he wished to become a judicial officer and, after hearing “yes,” immediately telling him to “get out” of the chamber during his early legal career.
In a rare and moving moment inside the courtroom, Chief Justice of India Surya Kant recently shared a personal story from his early days as a lawyer during proceedings before the Supreme Court. The narration took place while the Court was considering a petition by a judicial services aspirant seeking revaluation of an examination answer sheet.
Although the Bench led by the CJI Surya Kant along with Joymalya Bagchi ultimately refused to grant relief to the petitioner, Prerna Gupta, the hearing became an encouraging exchange about resilience, career decisions, and the wider legal profession.
As Gupta continued arguing for her case, Chief Justice Surya Kant stepped in and chose to recount an incident from his own life.
The CJI remarked,
“Let me share my personal story and I hope you will go happily as we cannot allow your petition,”
The Chief Justice then took the courtroom back to his student days, when he was in his final year of law and had himself aspired to enter judicial services. He noted that at the time, final-year students were allowed to apply for judicial services examinations.
He said,
“When I was in the final year, I applied for judicial services. At that time, final-year students could apply. By the time the results came, the procedure had changed. Earlier, the public service commission used to conduct the selection. Then a Supreme Court judgment came, pursuant to which judges of the high court were to act as subject experts, and their opinion would be binding on the commission,”
Justice Surya Kant added that during the same period, he had started practising before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He explained that even early in his career, he had argued a few important cases before senior judges.
Justice Surya Kant shared,
“One of the senior judges who had been nominated for the interview panel already knew me because I had argued two matters before him. One of the matters was Sunita Rani vs Baldev Raj, where he had allowed my appeal in a matrimonial case and set aside the decree of divorce granted by the district judge on the ground of schizophrenia,”
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He then described how that judge abruptly called him into chambers and challenged his choice of career.
“One day, he called me into his chamber and asked, ‘Do you want to become a judicial officer?’ I said yes. He immediately said, ‘Get out from (my) the chamber.’”
The CJI said that this comment left him shocked and deeply unsettled.
Justice Surya Kant said.
“I came out trembling. All my dreams were shattered. I thought he had snubbed me and that my career was over,”
However, the next day, the same judge reached out again this time to offer guidance that would significantly influence his future.
He said,
‘If you want to become (a judge), you are welcome. But my advice is, don’t become a judicial officer. The Bar is waiting for you”
The Chief Justice explained that after that conversation, he chose not to appear for the interview and instead continued his practice.
He also acknowledged that he did not immediately share the decision with his parents, as he feared disappointing them.
Using the experience to reassure Gupta, the Chief Justice urged her not to treat one setback as the end of the road.
“Now tell me did I make a right or bad decision,” the CJI asked Gupta, while advising her to focus on future prospects rather than seeking revaluation.
He added,
“Apply for superior judicial services next time. The Bar has much to offer,”
Even though the Court dismissed her plea, the interaction turned what could have been a routine hearing into an uplifting moment on persistence and the multiple career paths available within the legal field. Observers noted that Gupta left the courtroom smiling, despite the outcome.
The exchange also drew attention in legal circles for illustrating the changing dynamic between the Bench and the Bar, and for highlighting that a career in advocacy can be just as meaningful and rewarding as serving on the judiciary.
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