Justice Surya Kant stepped into a new chapter of the Indian judiciary on Monday as he took oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. His rise from a small village in Haryana to the nation’s highest judicial chair reflects a long career shaped by hard work, sharp legal insight, and a deep commitment to constitutional values.
Who Is Justice Surya Kant?
Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday morning. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Vice President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several Union ministers attended the ceremony.
VIDEO | Delhi: Justice Surya Kant takes oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India.
He has been part of key verdicts on the abrogation of Article 370, Bihar electoral roll revision, and the Pegasus spyware case. Appointed on October 30, he will serve for nearly 15 months and demit… pic.twitter.com/4cIog6pnH1
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 24, 2025
Justice Kant has played a major role in several important constitutional cases during his years at the Supreme Court. His judgments and contributions have shaped key legal debates on issues such as Article 370, electoral reforms, and individual rights.
Early Life and Education
Justice Surya Kant was born on February 10, 1962, in Petwar village in the Narnaud region of Hisar, Haryana. He studied in government schools in his village. He completed his law degree from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984. He began his legal practice the same year at the Hisar district court. Later, he shifted to Chandigarh and built a strong practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He specialised in constitutional, service, and civil matters.
While serving as a judge many years later, he added another academic milestone. He earned a master’s degree in law from Kurukshetra University with first-class first.
Rise in the Legal Profession
Justice Kant’s professional rise was rapid. In 2000, at the age of 38, he became the youngest Advocate General of Haryana. He was designated as a senior advocate in 2001. In 2004, he was elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
In October 2018, he became the chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. His experience and judicial work led to his elevation to the Supreme Court in May 2019.
Key Supreme Court Contributions
Justice Kant authored more than 300 judgments in his six-year tenure at the top court. He was part of several landmark benches.
- He was on the Constitution Bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370.
- He was also part of the bench that heard the Section 6A Citizenship Act case.
Justice Kant was a member of the bench that granted interim bail to former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal while holding that his arrest was legal. Most recently, he was also on the bench that ruled on the presidential reference regarding timelines for governors and the President to decide on state bills.
Work at NALSA
As the executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Justice Kant launched the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025. The scheme aims to provide free legal help to soldiers, veterans, and their families.
Justice Surya Kant now carries the responsibility of leading the judiciary through crucial times as he takes charge as the country’s 53rd CJI.
