Historic Moment: Justice Surya Kant Assumes Role as India's 53rd Chief Justice
In a significant moment for India's judicial system, Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. The 63-year-old jurist succeeded Justice BR Gavai, who had retired just a day earlier, marking a new chapter in the Supreme Court's leadership.
Breaking Barriers: First CJI from Haryana
Justice Kant's appointment represents multiple historic firsts for the Indian judiciary. He has become the first judge from Haryana to occupy the country's highest judicial office, breaking new ground for representation from the state. His tenure as CJI will span just over 14 months, concluding on February 9, 2027.
While several judges associated with the Punjab and Haryana High Court have risen to become Chief Justices of India in the past, Justice Surya Kant stands out as the first to originally hail from Haryana itself. Previous Chief Justices like Jagdish Singh Khehar, though connected to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, were not originally from the state of Haryana.
Humble Beginnings: From Village to Supreme Court
Born on February 10, 1962, in Petwar village within the Narnaund region of Hisar, Haryana, Justice Kant's journey to the apex court is particularly inspiring. He emerges as a first-generation lawyer in his family, according to his elder brother Rishi Kant, a retired drawing teacher who continues to reside in the family's ancestral home.
Justice Kant comes from a family of five siblings, being the youngest among them. His eldest sister Kamla Devi, 74, lives in Jind, while his brother Dr Shiv Kant practices as a pulmonologist in Bhiwani. Another brother, Dev Kant (66), retired from the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) as an instructor and settled in Hisar.
The judge's father, Madan Gopal Shastri, taught Sanskrit at a government school, while his mother dedicated herself to homemaking. Justice Kant's wife, Savita Kant, recently retired as principal of a government college in Panchkula.
In a Supreme Court where at least 11 of the 33 judges (including the CJI) are closely related to former judges, and approximately 10 SC judges had fathers who were lawyers, Justice Kant represents an exception. His predecessor, Justice BR Gavai (retired), also came from a non-legal background, with his father being a prominent Ambedkarite leader and founder of the Republican Party of India.
Rapid Rise Through Judicial Ranks
Justice Kant's legal career demonstrates remarkable progression and achievement. At the young age of 38 years, he became the youngest advocate general of Haryana. His judicial appointment came in 2004 when, at 42, he was appointed as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
After serving on the bench for over 14 years, his career advanced further with his appointment as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on October 5, 2018. His elevation to the Supreme Court followed shortly after on May 24, 2019.
Educational Journey: From Village School to LLM
Justice Kant's educational path reflects his dedication to continuous learning. He completed his class 10th from the local school in his ancestral village in Hisar. His undergraduate education took place at Government PG College in Hisar, followed by an LLB degree from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984.
Demonstrating commitment to legal scholarship even while serving as a judge, he completed his LLM from Kurukshetra University through distance learning in 2011, achieving the remarkable feat of standing first in the university.
Landmark Judgments That Shaped Indian Jurisprudence
Since joining the Supreme Court in May 2019, Justice Kant has contributed significantly to Indian jurisprudence through several notable judgments:
1. Gubernatorial Powers: He participated in the recent presidential reference concerning the powers of the Governor and President in dealing with bills passed by state assemblies.
2. Sedition Law Suspension: Justice Kant was part of the bench that effectively suspended the colonial-era sedition law, directing that no new FIRs be registered under it pending government review.
3. Electoral Transparency: He pushed the Election Commission to disclose details of 65 lakh voters excluded from draft electoral rolls in Bihar during hearings challenging the Special Intensive Revision of voters lists.
4. PM Security Breach Probe: Justice Kant helped appoint a five-member committee headed by former Justice Indu Malhotra to investigate the security breach during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 2022 Punjab visit.
5. Armed Forces Reforms: He upheld the One Rank-One Pension scheme for defence forces as constitutionally valid and continues to hear petitions from women officers seeking parity in permanent commission.
6. Minority Status Review: Justice Kant served on the seven-judge bench that overruled the 1967 Aligarh Muslim University judgment, opening pathways for reconsideration of the institution's minority status.
7. Pegasus Spyware Investigation: He participated in the bench that appointed cyber experts to probe unlawful surveillance allegations, famously stating that the state cannot claim a "free pass under the guise of national security."
8. Homemaker Compensation: In the 2021 Kirti vs Oriental Insurance Company Ltd Case, Justice Kant's bench increased accident compensation from ₹22 Lakh to ₹33.2 Lakh, recognizing the economic value of homemakers' work.
9. Free Speech Limitations: During the 'India Got Latent' row involving YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia in 2025, Justice Kant emphasized that free speech is not absolute.
10. Gender Equality in Bar: In 2024, he ordered one-third reservation for women in bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association.
Justice Surya Kant's appointment marks a significant milestone in the Indian judiciary, representing the aspirations of many from humble backgrounds and signaling the continuing evolution of India's legal system toward greater inclusivity and representation.
