Justice Surya Kant appointed as 53rd Chief Justice of India, to take oath on November 24

Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, the 52nd Chief Justice of India, will retire on November 23, after which Justice Surya Kant will assume office for a tenure lasting until February 9, 2027, spanning about 14 months

Justice Surya Kant will take charge as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on November 24, following the retirement of incumbent CJI Bhushan R. Gavai a day earlier. The Law Ministry confirmed the appointment after Justice Gavai formally recommended Justice Kant’s name to the Union Government, adhering to the established convention of seniority in judicial succession.

Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced the appointment on X, stating, “In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, as the Chief Justice of India with effect from November 24, 2025.” He extended his congratulations and best wishes to the incoming CJI.

Justice Gavai, who assumed office in May 2025 as the 52nd CJI, will demit office on November 23. Justice Surya Kant’s tenure as head of the Indian judiciary will continue until February 9, 2027, giving him about 14 months at the helm.

From Haryana to the apex court

Born on February 10, 1962, Justice Surya Kant hails from a middle-class family in Haryana. He graduated from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, in 1981 and earned his law degree from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984.

Beginning his legal practice in Hisar’s District Court in 1984, he later moved to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where he specialized in constitutional, service, and civil law. He represented several institutions, including universities, banks, and public bodies.

Journey through judicial ranks

Justice Kant became the youngest Advocate General of Haryana in 2000 and was designated as a Senior Advocate in 2001. He was elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in January 2004 and later served as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2018.

He joined the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019, and has since been part of several significant constitutional benches. Justice Surya Kant’s elevation as CJI marks the continuation of India’s long-standing convention of appointing the senior-most judge to lead the judiciary.