New Delhi, Oct 24 — The Centre has initiated the process of appointing the next Chief Justice of India, with incumbent CJI B.R. Gavai due to retire on November 23. Following established convention, the government has written to the outgoing CJI to recommend his successor — and all eyes are now on Justice Surya Kant, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court.
Once appointed, Justice Kant will take oath on November 24 as the 53rd Chief Justice of India, serving until February 9, 2027. His elevation continues the seniority tradition observed in the top judicial appointment process, followed consistently except twice in the 1970s.
Justice Kant, born on February 10, 1962, in Haryana’s Hisar district, brings over two decades of judicial experience. A graduate of Maharishi Dayanand University, he began as a practicing lawyer before becoming Haryana’s youngest Advocate General in 2000 at age 38. He was appointed a Punjab and Haryana High Court judge in 2004 and later became Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2018. He joined the Supreme Court in May 2019.
Over his tenure, Justice Kant has been part of several landmark rulings. He was among the judges who suspended the colonial-era sedition law, pending its review, and upheld the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) policy for defence personnel. He was also on the Bench that ruled the Pegasus spyware allegations warranted independent investigation, famously observing that “the state cannot get a free pass under the guise of national security.”
Justice Kant headed multiple important Benches — including those that directed the Election Commission to disclose data on 65 lakh excluded voters in Bihar, ordered one-third reservation for women in Bar associations, and dealt with the farmers’ blockade at Shambhu border near Ambala. He also co-authored the verdict that restored minority status to Aligarh Muslim University, overturning a 1967 decision.
Judicial observers note that Justice Kant’s elevation comes at a critical time, with the Supreme Court handling issues ranging from constitutional governance to environmental accountability. Known for his pragmatic approach and crisp courtroom interventions, he is expected to focus on judicial efficiency and access to justice.
As the nation awaits the formal announcement, Justice Kant’s forthcoming tenure is being viewed as one that will continue the court’s assertive yet balanced approach toward governance and individual freedoms.
