On Monday (24 November 2025), Justice Surya Kant took the oath of office as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) at a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The oath was administered by Draupadi Murmu, President of India.
He succeeds B. R. Gavai (the 52nd CJI) and will serve until his retirement on 9 February 2027, giving him a tenure of around 15 months.
Formation & Ceremony
The oath-taking was attended by senior constitutional functionaries including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Chief Justices and judges of High Courts, and dignitaries from neighbouring countries. Justice Kant took the oath in Hindi, pledging to uphold the Constitution of India and execute his duties faithfully.
Background & Judicial Journey
Born on 10 February 1962 in Petwar village, Hisar district, Haryana, Justice Kant began his legal career after earning his LLB in 1984 from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak. He served in practice at the Punjab & Haryana High Court before being elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on 24 May 2019. Before that, he was Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from October 2018.
Over his tenure, he has been part of several landmark judgments on issues such as the abrogation of Article 370, the Pegasus-spyware case, electoral reforms and the sedition law.
Priorities and Challenges Ahead
In his first statements post-swearing-in, Justice Kant underscored the backlog of cases in the judiciary and indicated that clearing pendency would be a priority. Analysts suggest that his nearly 15-month term offers a window to steer major constitutional benches, manage key legal reforms (like court procedure modernisation, access to justice) and strengthen judicial-administrative infrastructure.
However, a short tenure also means limited time to initiate deep structural changes. Many will watch how he handles issues of judicial accountability, digital transition of courts and ensuring timely disposal of high-stakes matters.
Why the Appointment Matters
- Continuity in seniority norm: His elevation follows the convention of appointment based on seniority in the Supreme Court.
- Global and domestic expectations: At a time when public trust in institutions is under scrutiny, the next CJI’s approach to transparency, case rosters and landmark benches matters.
- Leadership at apex court: The Chief Justice also plays a central role in judicial administration — from allocating cases to constituting benches, to oversight of judicial infrastructure.
