Justice Surya Kant was sworn in today as the 53rd Chief Justice of India in a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, with President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath of office. His appointment marks the beginning of a 15-month tenure in which he is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the country’s judicial landscape.
Justice Kant, who succeeds Justice B. R. Gavai, brings with him decades of experience and a reputation for bold, balanced, and reform-oriented judgments. Over the years, he has been part of several landmark rulings, including key decisions on Article 370, major corruption cases, electoral roll reforms, and matters related to national security and privacy.
Born in Haryana’s Hisar district, Justice Surya Kant’s journey from a small village to the apex of the Indian judiciary is widely admired. After serving as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court,Justice Kant was elevated to the Supreme Court, where his clarity, compassion, and deep understanding of constitutional law earned him respect across the legal fraternity.
As Justice Kant begins his term, Justice Kant has identified the mounting backlog of cases and the strengthening of alternative dispute resolution systems as top priorities. His vision is to make India’s justice system faster, more accessible, and more responsive to the needs of common citizens.
With a tenure of just over a year, Justice Surya Kant steps into the role at a pivotal time—bringing both high expectations and renewed hope for meaningful judicial reform.
