From Hisar to Supreme Court: Justice Surya Kant Set to Lead India’s Judiciary
CJI BR Gavai names Justice Surya Kant as his successor, to become the 53rd Chief Justice.
Chief Justice of India B R Gavai has recommended Justice Surya Kant, the second senior-most Supreme Court judge, as his successor to become the 53rd CJI on November 24, 2025, following Gavai’s retirement on November 23. In his formal recommendation to Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, CJI Gavai described Justice Kant as “suited and competent in all aspects to take the helm,” noting their shared background of perseverance from middle-class origins. The appointment follows the established convention of seniority.
Born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar, Haryana, Justice Kant graduated in law from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984 and began practicing at the district court before moving to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1985. Specialising in constitutional, service, and civil matters, he served as Haryana’s Advocate General from 2000, was designated Senior Advocate in 2001, and was elevated as a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004. He later became Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2018 before his Supreme Court appointment on May 24, 2019.
Justice Kant has delivered landmark judgements, including upholding the abrogation of Article 370, striking down the electoral bonds scheme for violating the right to information, and authoring the majority opinion validating Section 6A of the Citizenship Act under the Assam Accord. He also affirmed the One Rank One Pension scheme for armed forces and, in the Pegasus spyware case, emphasised that national security cannot justify unchecked surveillance. During COVID-19, he advocated prisoner releases to reduce jail overcrowding.
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Set to retire on February 9, 2027, Justice Kant will assume additional responsibility as Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee from November 12, 2025. His elevation ensures continuity in the judiciary’s senior leadership, with a tenure focused on constitutional integrity, public interest, and access to justice.
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