Justice Surya Kant Sworn In As India’s 53rd Chief Justice, Begins Tenure Until February 2027
Justice Surya Kant Sworn In As India’s 53rd Chief Justice, Begins Tenure Until February 2027
New Delhi, November 24, 2025: Justice Surya Kant formally assumed charge as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on Monday, beginning a tenure that will continue for nearly 15 months. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office during a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and Union ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Piyush Goyal.
Justice Kant takes over from Justice B.R. Gavai, who stepped down on Sunday. Appointed to the post on October 30, he will serve until February 9, 2027, when he reaches the age of superannuation at 65.
Notable Judgments and Contributions
Throughout his judicial career, Justice Kant has been part of several significant rulings and interventions. He was a member of the Constitution Bench that upheld the decision to abrogate Article 370. He also played a key role in suspending the use of the colonial-era sedition law by directing that no new FIRs be registered under it. In addition, he was involved in examining the presidential reference on the powers of Governors and the President concerning state legislation.
Justice Kant directed the Election Commission to reveal details of 65 lakh voters left out of Bihar’s draft electoral rolls. He also ordered the reinstatement of a woman sarpanch who had been unlawfully removed, noting evidence of gender discrimination. Further promoting gender representation, he directed that one-third of seats in bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association, be reserved for women.
He was part of the bench that constituted a committee led by Justice Indu Malhotra to investigate the 2022 security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab. The court had then observed that such inquiries require a “judicially trained mind.”
Justice Kant also upheld the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme and continues to hear matters related to women officers seeking equal opportunities in permanent commission. He was on the seven-judge bench that overturned the 1967 ruling related to Aligarh Muslim University’s minority status, and he participated in the Pegasus spyware case, cautioning that the state cannot claim a “free pass under the guise of national security.”
Early Life and Judicial Journey
Born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar, Haryana, Justice Kant started his career in a small-town legal practice before rising to the apex court. He completed his Master’s degree in law from Kurukshetra University with top honours and went on to serve as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.
Known for maintaining composure in the face of public scrutiny, he has earlier remarked: “I call social media ‘unsocial media’. I do not feel pressured by online comments… Fair criticism is always welcome.”
Justice Surya Kant’s elevation marks a significant moment for the judiciary as he prepares to lead the Supreme Court through a series of crucial constitutional and public-interest matters in the coming months.
