Justice Surya Kant Becomes India’s 53rd Chief Justice

Justice Surya Kant assumes office today as the 53rd Chief Justice of India, beginning a 14-month tenure that will focus on reducing case pendency and strengthening judicial efficiency. The oath will be administered by President Droupadi Murmu, following the recommendation of outgoing CJI Bhushan R. Gavai.

Career Path and Early Legal Journey

Born on 10 February 1962 in Haryana, Justice Surya Kant began practising law in Hisar in 1984 before shifting to Chandigarh. He handled constitutional, civil and service matters and represented major institutions, including universities, corporations and the High Court. He became Advocate General of Haryana in 2000 and was designated senior advocate in 2001.

Judicial Appointments and Key Roles

Justice Surya Kant was elevated as a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004. In 2018, he became Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. His elevation to the Supreme Court followed in May 2019. Since November 2024, he has served as Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, playing a key role in legal aid and access to justice.

Priorities as Chief Justice of India

Upon assuming office, he has identified reducing pendency—both in the Supreme Court and in courts nationwide—as his top priority. He plans to engage with all High Courts to address issues affecting subordinate courts. He also announced the formation of Constitution Benches of five, seven and nine judges to take up long-pending constitutional cases in the coming weeks.

Exam Oriented Facts

• Justice Surya Kant is India’s 53rd Chief Justice, succeeding Justice B.R. Gavai.
• He served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court before joining the Supreme Court.
• He was appointed Haryana’s youngest Advocate General in 2000.
• India’s courts currently have 5.29 crore pending cases across all levels.

Judicial Reforms and Technological Integration

Justice Surya Kant emphasises expanding mediation and alternative dispute resolution to reduce litigation burdens, especially in inter-governmental disputes. He has acknowledged AI’s potential in procedural tasks but maintains that judicial decisions must remain human-led. His tenure begins as India faces an unprecedented backlog across district courts, High Courts and the Supreme Court, heightening expectations for impactful reforms.