Justice Surya Kant Sworn in as 53rd Chief Justice of India

Justice Surya Kant was sworn in today as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Kant, who succeeds Justice B.R. Gavai. Justice Gavai had retired from the post on Sunday. Justice Kant was formally appointed under Article 124(2) of the Constitution following the recommendation made by the outgoing CJI.

Born on February 10, 1962, in Haryana, Justice Kant began his legal career in Hisar in 1984 before transitioning to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Throughout his tenure, he handled a diverse array of constitutional, civil, and service matters, often representing various government bodies and institutions. His career progression included becoming Haryana’s youngest Advocate General in 2000, being designated a Senior Advocate in 2001, and his elevation as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004. He later served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court in May 2019. Since November 2024, he has been chairing the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.

Before taking the oath, CJI Kant outlined his primary objectives, stating that reducing judicial pendency would be his top priority. He announced plans to hold consultations with High Courts to identify specific challenges hindering the efficiency of district and subordinate courts. Furthermore, he assured that long-pending matters would be addressed by constituting Constitution Benches of five, seven, and nine judges "in the next few weeks."

To alleviate the heavy workload on the judiciary, Justice Kant stressed the need for strengthening alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, including mediation. He specifically encouraged the promotion of community mediation as a means to effectively resolve disputes between states and those involving the Central government.