Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday, marking the culmination of a legal career that began in a small town and ascended to the highest judicial office in the country. Taking the oath in Hindi, he is set to remain in office for nearly 15 months, until his retirement on February 9, 2027.

Born into a middle-class family in Haryana's Hisar district, Justice Kant's journey reflects years of dedication, integrity, and hard work. He emphasized that merit and diligence are the cornerstones of success in the Supreme Court, suggesting that there are no accidental arrivals to the nation's highest court.

In recent statements to the media, CJI Kant outlined his priorities, emphasizing a focus on reducing the massive backlog of over five crore cases pending in various courts across the country. He also aims to promote mediation as a "game changer" for faster dispute resolution. He believes technology can break geographical barriers and bring legal aid to every citizen's doorstep if harnessed thoughtfully.

Justice Kant has been part of several landmark verdicts and orders, demonstrating his commitment to upholding the constitution and delivering justice. These include cases related to the abrogation of Article 370, the Pegasus spyware controversy, and matters concerning free speech and citizenship rights. He was also involved in the presidential reference regarding the powers of governors and the President in granting assent to bills passed by state assemblies.

Notably, Justice Kant was part of a five-judge Constitution bench that ruled the court cannot impose timelines on governors or the president to grant assent to bills, but also asserted that governors do not have unlimited power to indefinitely delay these bills.

Justice Kant has also addressed the issue of social media trolling and its potential impact on judges. He stated that the majority of judges are unaffected by social media and decide cases based on facts and the law.

Throughout his career, Justice Kant has underscored the importance of ethical conduct and the need to maintain public trust in institutions. In a 2023 verdict, he called corruption a serious societal threat and ordered the CBI to investigate cases exposing the nexus between banks and developers who defrauded homebuyers. He has also emphasized that every word uttered by a minister has to be with a sense of responsibility, affirming that freedom of speech is not absolute.

Other key observations and remarks made by Justice Kant include: * Courts deepen democracy when they act to empower the powerless, grounded in constitutional text and moral clarity. * The exercise of judicial power must be tempered by humility and guided by constitutional boundaries, and courts must not supplant the role of the legislature or override the will of the people. * Give a reasoned order on whether relief is denied or allowed, highlighting the people's judicial rights.

Justice Surya Kant's journey to the CJI's office exemplifies the values of hard work, integrity, and a commitment to justice. His focus on reducing case backlogs, promoting mediation, and leveraging technology signals a proactive approach to improving the efficiency and accessibility of the Indian judicial system.