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

Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday by President Droupadi Murmu at a solemn ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

He took the oath of office in Hindi, reaffirming his commitment to uphold the Constitution and the rule of law.

The ceremony witnessed the presence of several global judicial dignitaries, making it one of the most notable swearing-in events in recent years. Chief Justices, judges, and legal luminaries from various countries attended the function, underscoring India’s growing engagement with the international judicial community.

Justice Kant will serve as the CJI until February 9, 2027, giving him a tenure of a little over a year. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. Born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar, Haryana, Justice Kant completed his graduation locally and obtained his law degree from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984. He began his legal practice at the Hisar district court before moving to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1985.

In the Supreme Court, Justice Kant was part of several landmark decisions, including the judgment upholding the abrogation of Article 370, the ruling striking down the electoral bonds scheme, and key proceedings in the Pegasus spyware matter and the suspension of the sedition law.

He was appointed the youngest Advocate General of Haryana on July 7, 2000, and designated a senior advocate in March 2001. He was elevated as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004, and later served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in October 2018.