Surya Kant Appointed as New Chief Justice of India

Surya Kant's Appointment as Chief Justice

The Union law ministry announced on Thursday that Surya Kant has been designated as the next Chief Justice of India.

Kant, currently the second-highest-ranking judge in the Supreme Court, is set to take office on November 24, succeeding Chief Justice BR Gavai, who will retire a day earlier on November 23.

According to the Constitution, the president holds the authority to appoint judges to the Supreme Court.

Earlier this month, Chief Justice Gavai recommended Kant as his successor in a letter to the ministry, following the established convention for appointing chief justices of the Supreme Court.

As the 53rd Chief Justice, Kant will serve a term of 14 months, concluding in February 2027 when he is expected to retire.

Kant began his legal career in 1984 at the district court in Hisar, Haryana, before moving to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where he focused on constitutional, service, and civil law.

In 2000, he was appointed as the youngest advocate general of Haryana, a role he maintained until his appointment as a High Court judge in 2004.

He served as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court starting in 2018 and was elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2019.

Since November 2024, he has also chaired the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.