Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai is set to recommend Justice Surya Kant as his successor, paving the way for Justice Kant to become the 53rd CJI. CJI Gavai, currently on an official visit to Bhutan, confirmed that he would formally recommend Justice Kant's name to the Union government upon his return to New Delhi. CJI Gavai is scheduled to retire on November 23, 2025, after serving as a Supreme Court judge for six years and as CJI for a little over six months. Justice Kant's appointment would mark a significant moment, as he would be the first CJI from Haryana in the Supreme Court's 75-year history. He is expected to assume office on November 24, 2025, and serve until February 9, 2027.
The process for appointing the next CJI has formally begun, with the Ministry of Law and Justice sending a letter to CJI Gavai requesting his recommendation for his successor. This is in line with the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), which dictates that the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, considered fit for the position, should be recommended as the next CJI. Justice Surya Kant is currently the senior-most judge after CJI Gavai.
CJI Gavai emphasized Justice Kant's suitability for the role, citing his firm belief in Dr. Ambedkar's principle of equality, which is embedded in the Constitution. According to CJI Gavai, Justice Kant is suitable in all aspects to head the judiciary and will prove to be a worthy occupant of the top post in the judiciary.
Justice Surya Kant's journey to becoming a potential CJI is noteworthy. Born in a village in Hisar district, Haryana, he attended government schools and worked in the fields after school. He earned his law degree from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984. Justice Kant began his legal practice in Hisar and later moved to Chandigarh to practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He specialized in constitutional, service, and civil matters, representing various universities, boards, corporations, and banks. He was appointed the youngest Advocate General of Haryana in 2000 and designated as a Senior Advocate in 2001.
Justice Kant was elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004 and became the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2018. He was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019. During his tenure at the apex court, Justice Kant has been part of several important verdicts, including the Constitution Bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370 in 2023. He has contributed to over a thousand judgments spanning constitutional law, human rights, and public interest matters. Justice Kant also holds positions such as the ex officio Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and Visitor of the National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi.
Once CJI Gavai makes his recommendation, and it is approved by the President of India, Justice Surya Kant will formally assume office as the 53rd Chief Justice of India.
