New Delhi: Justice Surya Kant officially assumed the position of the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday, November 24, 2025, ushering in a procedural change regarding the mentioning of cases for urgent listing. On his first day in office, CJI Kant made it clear that oral requests for urgent case listings would no longer be entertained, except under "extraordinary circumstances," such as matters involving the death penalty or personal liberty.
Shortly after being sworn in at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Justice Kant presided over a bench in courtroom number one, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Atul S Chandurkar. The bench heard 17 cases in proceedings that spanned approximately two hours. The CJI began the session by pronouncing a judgment on a plea filed by Himachal Pradesh against a private firm.
Following the judgment, Vipin Nair, the president of the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), extended a warm welcome to the new Chief Justice in a packed courtroom. One lawyer acknowledged Justice Kant as "a farmer's son who has become the CJI," which drew a smile from Justice Kant, who responded by acknowledging the presence of young lawyers from Chandigarh.
Transitioning to the business of the court, CJI Kant clarified the new protocol for urgent case mentioning. He stated that, with the exception of "extraordinary" situations, all requests for urgent listings must be submitted in writing via a mentioning slip, detailing the cause of urgency. The registrar will then review the slips, and cases deemed urgent will be scheduled accordingly.
This decision was prompted by a matter relating to the demolition of a canteen that was brought before the bench. CJI Kant has previously expressed his views on the heavy workload of judges and the need to prioritize cases involving immediate threats to life or liberty. In September, he stated that he would not list a case on the same day unless someone's life or liberty was at stake. He emphasized the long hours and lack of sleep that judges endure, highlighting the pressures they face.
The new CJI's approach signals a move towards a more structured and efficient system for handling urgent case listings. By requiring written requests with detailed explanations of urgency, the court aims to better manage its workload and ensure that cases are prioritized appropriately.
Justice Surya Kant's tenure is expected to be relatively long, providing an opportunity for his bench to address several significant constitutional and social matters. Cases related to the validity of the sedition law, the electoral roll revision, and the issue of "refugees" or "illegal immigrants" concerning Rohingyas are among the important matters that may come before him. Justice Kant has been involved in landmark verdicts and orders, including those related to the abrogation of Article 370 and the Pegasus spyware case.
