On 24-11-2025, the President of India administered the oath of office to Justice Surya Kant as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. Justice Surya Kant succeeded 52nd CJI B.R. Gavai, who demitted office on 23-11-2025.
In a first, Justice Surya Kant’s oath ceremony was attended by Chief Justices and Judges from several foreign countries such as Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal and Sri Lanka.1
On 30-10-2025, in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 124(2) of the Constitution, the President appointed Justice Surya Kant as the 53rd Chief Justice of India with effect from 24-11-2025. Justice Surya Kant will succeed 52nd CJI B.R. Gavai who will retire on 23-11-2025.
As CJI, Justice Surya Kant will have a tenure till early February 2027 and will retire on 9-2-20272.
Know your newly appointed CJI
“Justice is not locked away in legal commentaries or textbooks; it is a sleeping force which judges must breathe life into and awaken.”
-Justice Surya Kant3
Born in the quaint town of Hisar, Haryana, on 10-2-1962, Justice Surya Kant emerged from humble beginnings to carve an illustrious career in the legal realm.
Justice Surya Kant furthered his education by obtaining a bachelor’s degree in law from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984 and in this very year, he also commenced his career in law by starting his practice at the District Court, Hisar. Justice Kant subsequently shifted to Chandigarh in 1985 to practice in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. During his tenure as an advocate, Justice Surya Kant specialised in Constitutional, Service and Civil matters.
On 07-07-2000, when Justice Kant was appointed as the Advocate General of Haryana. His contributions were further acknowledged when he was designated as a Senior Advocate in March 2001.
Did You Know? In 2000 Justice Surya Kant earned distinction of being appointed as the youngest Advocate General of Haryana!
Justice Surya Kant was subsequently appointed as Permanent Judge to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 09-1-2004 thereby embarking on his judicial career which then led to him being appointed as Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court in October 2018 and eventually Justice Surya Kant was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2019 and with him now being appointed as the CJI, Justice Surya Kant’s career thus reveals a true testament to his abilities, dedication and talent.
Notable Judgments by the new CJI
Discharge of Governor & President’s functions under Arts 200/201 not justiciable; Not appropriate to judicially prescribe timelines: Supreme Court
While considering this Presidential Reference under Article 143(1) of the Constitution relating to interpretation of powers of the Governor and President under Articles 200 and 201 of the Constitution for opinion of the Supreme Court; the Constitution Bench of B.R. Gavai, CJI, Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P.S. Narasimha and Atul S. Chandurkar, JJ., opined that the Governor has 3 constitutional options before him, under Article 200, namely — to assent, reserve the Bill for the consideration of the President, or withhold assent and return the Bill to the Legislature with comments. The first proviso to Article 200 is bound to the substantive part of the provision, and restricts the existing options, rather than offering a fourth option. Pertinently, the third option — to withhold assent and return with comments — is only available to the Governor when it is not a Money Bill.
Annual 4-point roster to determine seniority in HJS; This & other Supreme Court Directions impacting statewide HJS cadres
While considering this matter seeking to revisit the principles governing the determination of seniority within the cadre of statewide Higher Judicial Services (HJS), the 5-Judge Bench of B.R. Gavai, CJI, Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, K. Vinod Chandran and Joymalya Bagchi, JJ., laid down general and mandatory guidelines which shall, henceforth, be incorporated into the respective statutory service rules governing the determination of inter se seniority among officers appointed from different sources to the Higher Judicial Services.
Whether an industrial entity could be benefitted from Kedar Nath Yadav (2017) ruling on Singur Land Restoration? Inside Supreme Court’s decision
While considering this appeal whereby the State of West Bengal had challenged restoration of 28 Bighas of land in Singur to Santi Ceramics (respondents) pursuant to directions laid down in Kedar Nath Yadav v. State of W.B., (2017) 11 SCC 601, the Division Bench of Surya Kant* and Joymalya Bagchi, JJ., the Court held that the respondent cannot claim the benefit of the Court’s directions in Kedar Nath Yadav (supra). Having accepted monetary settlement without challenge and remaining passive during litigation spanning several years, the respondent cannot now seek benefits from relief secured by others.
The Court stated that permitting industrial entities to claim restoration benefits from litigation they chose not to pursue would establish an undesirable precedent. Such an approach would incentivize strategic inaction, encouraging parties to remain dormant during protracted litigation only to emerge as claimants after favourable outcomes are secured by others. This would undermine both the targeted nature of remedial relief and the fundamental principle that legal benefits flow from active pursuit of remedies, not passive opportunism. [State of W.B. v. Santi Ceramics (P) Ltd., 2025 SCC OnLine SC 2220]
Builder-Banks Nexus in Delhi-NCR | Supreme Court directs CBI to proceed with the investigation in the case
While considering this petition concerning the disbursement of funds by banks to builders-cum-developers through subvention schemes for various housing development projects in Noida, Greater Noida, Gurugram, and other nearby areas, the 3-Judge Bench of Surya Kant, Ujjal Bhuyan and N. Kotiswar Singh, JJ., directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to register the case under the appropriate provisions of law and proceed to investigate the same. The Court took further took note that the CBI upon completing its preliminary enquiry as per previous instructions of the Court, found that a cognizable offence is made out. The matter is to be listed on 16-10-2025 before the Division Bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N. Kotiswar Singh. [Himanshu Singh v. Union of India, 2025 SCC OnLine SC 2111]
Supreme Court constitutes Committee led by former Allahabad HC Judge to supervise functioning of Bankey Bihari Temple
While considering the petitions and applications pertaining to the management and development of the Thakur Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple at Vrindavan, Mathura in Uttar Pradesh, the Division Bench of Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi, JJ., directed the establishment of a High-Powered Temple Management Committee (“the Committee”) under the Chairmanship of Justice Ashok Kumar, Former Judge, Allahabad High Court, to oversee and supervise the day-to-day functioning inside and outside of the Bankey Bihari Temple, subject to the ultimate outcome of the proceedings before the Allahabad High Court.
The Court further modified the order passed by the coordinate Bench of the Court in Ishwar Chanda Sharma v. Devendra Kumar Sharma, 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1135, vis-a-vis directions issued for Bankey Bihari Temple, thereby restoring the legal position to status quo ante. [Management Committee of Thakur Shree Bankey Bihari Ji Maharaj Temple v. State of Uttar Pradesh, 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1666]
Supreme Court orders Assam Human Rights Commission to probe alleged fake police encounters in Assam; Sets aside Gauhati HC Judgment, orders legal aid for victims
In an appeal filed against the Gauhati High Court’s dismissal of a Public Interest Litigation (‘PIL’) seeking records of all alleged fake encounters in the State of Assam, registration of FIRs against the erring police officials, and an independent investigation into such incidents, a Division Bench of Surya Kant* and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, JJ. gave certain directions. [Arif Md. Yeasin Jwadder v. State of Assam, (2025) 8 SCC 804]
Supreme Court urges courts to exercise suo motu powers in cases involving misleading arbitration clauses drafted by lawyers
In a batch of appeals challenging judgments passed by the Delhi High Court, in three separate proceedings pertaining to multiple Concession Agreements executed between the Municipal Corporation(s) of Delhi and various private contractors for the development of parking and commercial complexes, the division bench of Surya Kant* and Nongmeikapam Kotiswar Singh, JJ. emphasised the need for courts to invoke their suo motu powers in cases where legal professionals are found deliberately drafting misleading arbitration clauses. The Court pointed out that the time is near when personal liability may need to be assigned for such unscrupulous actions, coupled with the imposition of stringent punitive measures. [SDMC v. SMS Ltd., 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1138]
Supreme Court proposes framing of mandatory guidelines for expeditious appraisal of criminal appeals
While considering a writ petition revolving around 4 petitioners seeking a direction to the Jharkhand High Court for pronouncement of judgments in their respective Criminal Appeals; the Division Bench of Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh, JJ., took note after the directions issued by them via order dated 5-5-2025, and during the pendency of these proceedings, the judgments in all the four Criminal Appeals have been pronounced by the High Court. It was noted that consequently, all the four petitioners have been released from custody as of 13-05-2025. [Pila Pahan v. State of Jharkhand, 2025 SCC OnLine SC 1152]
Article 370 Verdict | Supreme Court upholds abrogation of Special Status for Jammu and Kashmir
The five-Judge Constitution Bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Dr. DY Chandrachud, Sanjay Kishan Kaul, Sanjiv Khanna, B.R. Gavai, and Surya Kant, JJ., delivered its verdict pertaining to the petitions filed against abrogation of Article 370 by the Central Government. The Bench unanimously upheld the Union’s action of abrogating Article 370. It further directed the restoration of statehood. Dr. DY Chandrachud, CJI particularly directed the Election Commission of India to conduct elections to the J&K assembly by 30-9-2025.
To Know more about the new CJI, Read: Know Thy Judge | Justice Surya Kant: Journey from bustling town of Hisar to the Supreme Court of India
1. CJI Surya Kant Oath Ceremony | The Print
2. https://www.sci.gov.in/chief-justice-judges/
3. Book Release of former CJI N.V. Ramana’s “Narratives Off the Bench: A Judge Speaks”.