Justice Surya Kant Poised to be 53rd CJI, Will Serve a 14-Month Tenure
New Delhi: In a formal move that marks the next chapter in the country’s judicial leadership, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has officially recommended Justice Surya Kant, the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor.
The recommendation, which adheres to the established convention of seniority in the apex court, has been conveyed to the Union Law Ministry, according to sources familiar with the development.
Justice Surya Kant is now poised to take oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on November 24, a day after CJI Gavai demits office upon his retirement on November 23.
Once appointed, Justice Kant, who currently serves on the Supreme Court bench with a distinguished record of jurisprudence, will have a tenure of just over one year and two months, until his retirement on February 9, 2027.
Born on February 10, 1962, Justice Surya Kant’s legal journey reflects the steady rise of a jurist deeply grounded in both law and public service. He began his career as an advocate in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
His early career saw him rise to prominence when he was appointed Advocate General of Haryana in 2000, becoming one of the youngest individuals to hold the influential post. He was subsequently elevated to the Bench in 2001. His career trajectory then saw him serve as a judge and later as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019.
In his nearly six years on the apex court, Justice Kant has been part of several constitutionally significant benches, delivering landmark judgments that have consistently reinforced principles of administrative fairness, transparency, and social justice.