 "Justice Surya Kant assumed office following his appointment on the recommendation of former Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai. (PTI)")
Justice Surya Kant—known for his pivotal role in major verdicts, including the abrogation of Article 370, Bihar’s electoral roll revision, and the Pegasus spyware probe—took oath on Monday, November 24, as the 53rd Chief Justice of India.
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with Justice Kant succeeding Justice B R Gavai, who retired on Sunday. Appointed under Article 124(2) of the Constitution on the recommendation of former Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, Justice Kant has now formally assumed office.
Ahead of taking the oath, CJI Kant said his top priority would be reducing judicial pendency, adding that he would consult High Courts to identify challenges faced by district and subordinate courts.
Justice Kant was named the next Chief Justice of India on October 30 and will serve for nearly 15 months. He will demit office on 9 February 2027 upon attaining the age of 65.
Born on 10 February 1962 in the Hisar district of Haryana to a middle-class family, Justice Kant rose from being a small-town lawyer to holding the country’s highest judicial office. He has contributed to several significant verdicts and orders on national and constitutional matters. He also earned the distinction of securing ‘first class first’ in his Master of Laws in 2011 from Kurukshetra University.
Justice Kant, who authored several notable judgements during his tenure at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, was appointed Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on 5 October 2018. His tenure as a Supreme Court judge includes key verdicts on the abrogation of Article 370, free speech and citizenship rights.