President Murmu administers oath of office to CJI Surya Kant

New Delhi, Nov 2025 : President Droupadi Murmu on Monday administered the oath of office to Justice Surya Kant, formally appointing him as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI). His elevation marks the beginning of a 14-month tenure at the helm of the country’s judiciary.

Justice Surya Kant succeeds Justice Bhushan R. Gavai, who demitted office on Sunday upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. In keeping with long-standing convention, Justice Gavai—then the Chief Justice—had recommended Justice Kant, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor.

Following this recommendation, President Murmu appointed Justice Surya Kant under clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution. The Union Law and Justice Ministry had issued the notification on October 30 confirming his elevation, stating that his term as CJI would begin on November 24, 2025, and conclude on February 9, 2027.

A Distinguished Legal Journey

Born on February 10, 1962, in a middle-class family in Haryana, Justice Surya Kant began his legal career in Hisar in 1984. He later shifted to Chandigarh, where he built a reputation as a versatile lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Over the years, he argued a wide range of constitutional, civil and service matters, representing universities, Boards, banks, corporations, and even the High Court.

His professional rise was swift. In July 2000, he became the youngest Advocate General of Haryana. A year later, he was designated a senior advocate. On January 9, 2004, he was elevated as a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Justice Surya Kant went on to serve as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from October 2018 until May 24, 2019, when he was elevated to the Supreme Court.

Within the apex court system, he has played important administrative and judicial roles. Since November 2024, he has served as Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. He has also been a two-term member of the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and is associated with several key judicial and legal institutions.

Priorities as Chief Justice

Speaking to the media ahead of taking charge, Justice Surya Kant identified reducing pendency at all levels of the judiciary as his foremost priority. Stressing the need for systemic reform, he said the Supreme Court would begin by working closely with High Courts to pinpoint challenges affecting district and subordinate courts, where the bulk of the backlog lies.

He also announced that Constitution Benches comprising five, seven, and nine judges would be constituted “within the next few weeks” to address long-pending constitutional matters. Several high-impact cases have awaited such benches for years.

Strengthening ADR and Community Mediation

Justice Surya Kant signalled a strong push toward alternative dispute resolution (ADR), especially mediation, as a means to ease the burden on India’s courts. “Mediation will be implemented effectively to reduce the load of millions of cases,” he said.

He also emphasised the importance of community mediation—particularly for disputes between state governments and between the Centre and the states—highlighting the need for “a conducive environment” where such mechanisms can thrive.

On Artificial Intelligence in the Judiciary

Responding to questions about the use of artificial intelligence to reduce pendency, the new CJI acknowledged its potential benefits but also expressed caution. “AI has advantages, but there are concerns as well. It can be used in procedural matters. However, everyone wants their case to be decided by a judge,” he said, underscoring that technology must assist—not replace—judicial decision-making.

A Tenure Focused on Reform

As Justice Surya Kant begins his 14-month term, expectations are high that he will advance structural reforms, push long-delayed constitutional cases toward resolution, and strengthen mediation and access to justice. His tenure promises a blend of administrative efficiency and judicial clarity as India’s legal system prepares for a period of significant transformation.