New Delhi, November 24, 2025 : Justice Surya Kant, known for his pivotal role in major constitutional and national matters—including the Article 370 verdict, Bihar electoral rolls revision, and the sedition law freeze—was sworn in on Monday as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI). He succeeds Justice B. R. Gavai.
The oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu in a solemn ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where Justice Kant took the oath in Hindi in the name of God. His tenure will span nearly 15 months, ending on February 9, 2027, upon attaining the age of 65.
Top Leadership in Attendance
Vice President C. P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, outgoing CJI Gavai, and Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal were among the dignitaries present.
Prime Minister Modi later posted photographs of the ceremony on X, extending his best wishes for Justice Kant’s tenure.
A customary group photograph featuring the President, Vice President, PM, CJI Kant, former CJI Gavai and others captured the momentous occasion. Justice Gavai also embraced his successor warmly after the ceremony.
A Journey from Hisar to India’s Highest Judicial Office
Born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar, Haryana, Justice Kant rose from a small-town advocate to one of India’s most influential judicial minds. A gold medallist in his Master’s program from Kurukshetra University, he built a distinguished career marked by precision, balance, and constitutional clarity.
His rise includes:
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Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court (2018)
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Supreme Court Judge with key contributions to jurisprudence on free speech, citizenship, gender justice, and national security
Key Judgments & Contributions
Justice Surya Kant has been associated with several landmark rulings:
1. Constitutional & National Issues
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Part of the bench upholding the abrogation of Article 370, reshaping the constitutional relationship with Jammu & Kashmir.
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Integral to the seven-judge bench overturning the 1967 AMU minority status ruling, paving the way for renewed legal scrutiny.
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Key voice in the Pegasus spyware case, asserting that the state cannot claim a “free pass” under national security without accountability.
2. Protecting Civil Liberties
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Part of the bench that paused the colonial-era sedition law, prohibiting new FIRs until reviewed by the government.
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Upheld free speech and citizenship rights through reasoned, rights-focused judgments.
3. Electoral Transparency
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Pushed the Election Commission to disclose details of 65 lakh voters omitted from Bihar’s draft rolls during the Special Intensive Revision.
4. Gender Justice & Grassroots Democracy
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Reinstated a wrongfully removed woman sarpanch, highlighting systemic gender bias.
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Directed one-third reservation for women in bar associations, including the SCBA.
5. National Security & Governance
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Member of the bench ordering a judicial probe into the security breach during PM Modi’s Punjab visit in 2022, noting the need for a “judicially trained mind.”
6. Defence & Armed Forces
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Upheld the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme as constitutionally valid.
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Continues to hear pleas by women officers seeking equal opportunities in permanent commission.
A Tenure Expected to Leave a Mark
With a track record of clarity, constitutional discipline and citizen-centric rulings, Justice Kant’s tenure as CJI is expected to be transformative, particularly in areas involving transparency, institutional accountability, and fundamental rights.
