Justice Surya Kant’s Appointment as Chief Justice
New Delhi, Nov 23: Justice Surya Kant, a distinguished judge of the Supreme Court recognized for his pivotal role in numerous landmark constitutional decisions, is scheduled to take the oath of office as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday. He will take over from Justice BR Gavai, who will conclude his term on Sunday evening.
Justice Kant was appointed as the next CJI on October 30 and is expected to serve for approximately 15 months, retiring on February 9, 2027, upon reaching the age of 65.
Throughout his tenure at the Supreme Court, Justice Kant has contributed to significant rulings regarding the abrogation of Article 370, issues of free speech, and citizenship rights.
He was also part of the Constitution Bench that recently deliberated on the presidential reference concerning the authority of Governors and the President in relation to state assembly bills. The anticipated verdict is expected to have extensive implications for various states.
Justice Kant was involved in the bench that suspended the colonial-era sedition law, instructing that no new FIRs be filed under this provision until the government completes its review.
Born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar district of Haryana, Justice Kant’s ascent from a small-town lawyer to the highest judicial office in the country is marked by numerous significant rulings and contributions to constitutional law. He achieved ‘first class first’ in his Master’s degree in Law from Kurukshetra University in 2011.
Prior to his elevation to the Supreme Court, Justice Kant served as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court starting October 5, 2018.
At the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he authored several important judgments, including one that reinstated a woman sarpanch who had been unjustly removed from her position, highlighting the gender bias present in the case.
He is also recognized for mandating that one-third of seats in bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association, be reserved for women.
Among his notable judicial contributions, Justice Kant upheld the One Rank-One Pension (OROP) scheme for defense personnel, declaring it constitutionally valid, and continues to address petitions from women officers in the armed forces seeking equal rights in permanent commissions.
He was part of the seven-judge bench that overturned the 1967 ruling regarding Aligarh Muslim University, allowing for a reassessment of the institution’s minority status.
Justice Kant also participated in the bench that examined the Pegasus spyware case, which appointed a panel of cyber experts to investigate allegations of illegal surveillance, emphasizing that the state cannot claim immunity under the pretext of national security.
