Justice Surya Kant Recommended as 53rd Chief Justice of India, to Succeed CJI B.R. Gavai on November 24

Justice Surya Kant to take charge as next CJI

Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai has formally recommended Justice Surya Kant as his successor, paving the way for his appointment as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. The recommendation was made on Monday, October 27, shortly after Chief Justice Gavai returned from an official visit to Bhutan.

Justice Kant, currently the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, is slated to assume office on November 24, 2025, following Justice Gavai’s retirement.

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Appointment procedure initiated

The Law Ministry had written to Chief Justice Gavai last week seeking his recommendation in line with the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) governing the appointment of the Chief Justice of India and other Supreme Court judges. The CJI responded immediately upon his return, meeting Justice Kant personally to convey the recommendation.

Under the MoP, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court—considered fit to hold the position—is appointed as the next Chief Justice after the incumbent’s retirement. With the recommendation now made, the formal appointment will be issued by the government in the coming weeks.

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A judicial career marked by landmark verdicts

Justice Surya Kant has been part of several historic Supreme Court benches and decisions that shaped India’s legal and constitutional landscape. He was among the judges who upheld the abrogation of Article 370, which revoked Jammu and Kashmir’s special status, and was part of the bench that struck down the electoral bonds scheme earlier this year, calling it unconstitutional.

He also played key roles in hearings on the Pegasus spyware case, suspension of the sedition law, and other constitutional matters involving fundamental rights and executive accountability.

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From Hisar to the Supreme Court

Born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar, Haryana, Justice Kant pursued his Bachelor’s degree in Law from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, graduating in 1984. He began his legal career in the Hisar district court before moving to Chandigarh in 1985 to practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In 2000, he became the youngest Advocate General of Haryana, and the following year, he was designated as a Senior Advocate. Justice Kant was elevated to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004 and later appointed as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2018.

He joined the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019, and is due to retire on February 9, 2027.

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Legacy and expectations

Justice Kant’s elevation is expected to bring continuity and balance to the apex court at a time when it is handling several high-stakes constitutional matters, including those concerning electoral reforms, data privacy, and federal powers.

As the next Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant will preside over the Supreme Court until his retirement in early 2027, steering the judiciary through a period marked by technological transformation, increasin