Justice Surya Kant Takes Oath, Succeeds as India’s 53rd Chief Justice
India welcomes Justice Surya Kant as the 53rd CJI, celebrated for his decisive role in major constitutional and public-interest cases.;
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Surya Kant at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 24 November 2025, formally elevating him as the 53rd Chief Justice of India.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and senior Union ministers attended the swearing-in ceremony, marking its national significance.
He will serve as CJI until February 9, 2027, granting him just over a year in office.
Profile of Justice Surya Kant
Early Life and Education
Justice Surya Kant began his legal career in 1984 at the District Court in Hisar before shifting to Chandigarh the following year to practice before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. His sharp legal acumen and rising stature in the Bar led to his appointment as the Advocate General of Haryana on 7 July 2000, making him the youngest person to hold the position. Shortly thereafter, in March 2001, he was designated as a Senior Advocate.
He was elevated to the Bench on 9 January 2004 as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where he served with distinction for several years. During this period, he also contributed to legal reforms as a Member of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) from 2007 to 2011, and remained actively involved in various committees of the Indian Law Institute.
Justice Surya Kant’s judicial journey advanced further when he was appointed Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on 5 October 2018. His administrative and judicial capabilities subsequently led to his elevation to the Supreme Court of India on 24 May 2019.
Significant Judicial Contributions of Justice Surya Kant
- Upheld abrogation of Article 370, affirming the validity of removing Jammu & Kashmir’s special status.
- Put the sedition law (Section 124A IPC) on hold, directing that no new FIRs be registered until its review.
- Ordered an independent expert committee in the Pegasus spyware case, stressing that national security cannot be used to avoid judicial scrutiny.
- Directed the Election Commission to publish details of 65 lakh voters deleted during the Bihar electoral roll revision.
- Reinstated a wrongly removed woman sarpanch and ordered one-third reservation for women in bar associations, including SCBA.
- Sat on a Constitution Bench examining the powers of governors and the president regarding state legislation.
- Part of the bench that appointed a panel headed by Justice Indu Malhotra to probe the 2022 security breach during PM Modi’s convoy.
- Upheld the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme as constitutionally valid and heard related cases on permanent commission for women officers.
- Member of the seven-judge bench that overruled the 1967 AMU judgment, allowing reconsideration of the university’s minority status.
Important Link
Law Library: Notes and Study Material for LLB, LLM, Judiciary, and Entrance Exams