Justice Surya Kant appointed next Chief Justice of India

October 30, 2025

New Delhi: The Central government on Thursday cleared the appointment of Supreme Court judge Justice Surya Kant as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI).

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from November 24, 2025,” read the official notification issued by the Ministry of Law and Justice.

To Succeed CJI Bhushan R. Gavai

Justice Kant will succeed Chief Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, who retires on November 23 upon attaining the age of 65 years.

Justice Gavai had earlier recommended Justice Kant as his successor, following the long-standing seniority convention in the appointment of Chief Justices of India.

Justice Kant will be the 53rd Chief Justice of India and is set to serve a tenure of about 14 months, demitting office on February 9, 2027.

Early Life and Education

Born on February 10, 1962, into a middle-class family in Haryana, Justice Surya Kant graduated from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, in 1981 and obtained his law degree from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984.

He began his legal career in Hisar before shifting to Chandigarh in 1985 to practice before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Distinguished Legal Career

Over nearly four decades of legal practice, Justice Kant dealt with a wide range of constitutional, service, and civil matters, representing universities, boards, corporations, banks, and even the High Court itself.

He was appointed the youngest Advocate General of Haryana on July 7, 2000, and was designated as a senior advocate in March 2001.

Justice Kant was elevated as a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004, and later served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from October 5, 2018, until his elevation to the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019.

Contributions to Legal Services and Institutions

Justice Surya Kant has been deeply involved in judicial and legal service initiatives.
He served as a member of the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) between 2007 and 2011, and continues to contribute to several committees of the Indian Law Institute, a deemed university functioning under the Supreme Court.

Since November 2024, he has also been the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.