Justice Surya Kant oath scheduled today as he becomes 53rd Chief Justice of India

Hyderabad: Justice Surya Kant will take oath today as the 53rd Chief Justice of India, completing the transition that followed the retirement of Justice B. R. Gavai on Sunday evening. Moreover, President Droupadi Murmu will oversee the Justice Surya Kant oath ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Justice Gavai recommended Justice Kant for the post in line with judicial seniority. After receiving that recommendation, the President appointed Justice Kant under Article 124(2) of the Constitution. Consequently, the process ensured seamless continuity within the Supreme Court.

Justice Surya Kant’s oath caps a four-decade legal journey

Justice Surya Kant was born on February 10, 1962, in Haryana. He began legal practice in Hisar in 1984 and later shifted to Chandigarh to appear before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Over time, he handled constitutional, service and civil matters for universities, boards, corporations, banks and the High Court.

Furthermore, he became Haryana’s youngest Advocate General in July 2000. A year later, he received the senior advocate designation. He joined the Punjab and Haryana High Court as a permanent judge on January 9, 2004. After that phase, he led the Himachal Pradesh High Court as Chief Justice from October 2018 until his elevation to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.

Since November 2024, he has chaired the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. This role, in turn, added administrative experience ahead of the Justice Surya Kant oath scheduled for today.