Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday, November 24, 2025. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Kant succeeds Justice B.R. Gavai, who retired on November 23. His tenure as CJI is expected to last for nearly 15 months.

Here are 10 facts about the new Chief Justice of India:

1. Appointment and Oath: Justice Surya Kant's appointment as CJI was made "in exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution". He took the oath in Hindi, pledging to uphold the Constitution and faithfully discharge his duties. The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, among other dignitaries.

2. Early Life and Education: Born on February 10, 1962, in Petwar village, Hisar district, Haryana, Justice Kant comes from a middle-class family. His father, Madan Gopal Sharma, was a Sanskrit teacher. He graduated from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, in 1981 and earned his Bachelor of Laws from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984. He also secured first class in his Master of Laws from Kurukshetra University in 2011.

3. Early Career: Justice Kant began his law practice in the District Courts of Hisar in 1984. In 1985, he moved to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh, specializing in constitutional, service, and civil matters.

4. Advocate General of Haryana: Justice Kant became the youngest Advocate General (AG) of Haryana at the age of 38 in 2000 and was also designated as a Senior Advocate. He served as Advocate General until his elevation as a permanent Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004.

5. Judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court: Justice Kant was elevated to the Punjab & Haryana High Court as a judge in January 2004. His judgments reflected careful reading, succinct reasoning, and a recurring concern for access and fairness.

6. Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court: On October 5, 2018, Justice Kant took oath as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court.

7. Supreme Court Judge: The Supreme Court collegium recommended his elevation to the Supreme Court of India on May 9, 2019. On May 24, 2019, he was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court.

8. Notable Judgments and Contributions: Justice Kant has been part of several landmark verdicts and orders, including those related to the abrogation of Article 370, free speech, and citizenship rights. He was also involved in cases such as the Pegasus spyware case and the appointment of a committee to probe the security breach during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Punjab in 2022. He penned several notable judgments in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

9. Commitment to Legal Aid: Justice Kant has been actively involved with the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). He served on the Governing Body of NALSA from 2007 to 2011 and has been the Executive Chairman of NALSA since May 14, 2025.

10. Focus Areas as CJI: As the CJI, Justice Kant aims to develop a strategy to reduce the backlog of cases in the Supreme Court, High Courts, and district courts. He also intends to prioritize the listing of long-pending cases raising similar questions of law.

Justice Surya Kant's journey from a small village in Haryana to the highest judicial office in India is a testament to his dedication, scholarship, and commitment to public service.