Justice Surya Kant Sworn In as Chief Justice of India, Takes Oath in Hindi at Rashtrapati Bhavan

New Delhi, Nov 2025 President Droupadi Murmu on Monday administered the oath of office to Justice Surya Kant as the Chief Justice of India (CJI) during a formal ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In a notable departure from recent practice, Justice Kant took the oath in Hindi, invoking the name of God, marking a symbolic moment in the historic ceremony attended by dignitaries from India and abroad.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Union ministers, Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini, and judges of the Supreme Court were present at the event. Chief Justices and senior judges from Bhutan, Kenya, Malaysia, Brazil, Mauritius, Nepal, and Sri Lanka also attended, underscoring the international prominence of the occasion.

Justice Surya Kant, the 53rd Chief Justice of India, will serve a tenure of approximately 14 months and is scheduled to demit office on February 9, 2027.

Appointment and Constitutional Process

Justice Kant’s appointment was cleared by the Centre on October 30, after then CJI Bhushan R. Gavai recommended him as his successor in keeping with the long-standing convention of seniority. The Union Law and Justice Ministry formalised the appointment, stating:
“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from November 24, 2025.”

Early Life and Education

Born on February 10, 1962, in a middle-class family in Haryana, Justice Surya Kant completed his graduation from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, in 1981, followed by a law degree from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984.

He began his legal career the same year in Hisar before shifting to Chandigarh in 1985, where he practised before the Punjab and Haryana High Court and steadily built his reputation as a versatile and accomplished lawyer.

Legal Career and Rise in the Judiciary

Throughout his legal practice, Justice Kant handled an extensive range of constitutional, service, and civil matters. His clients included universities, Boards, corporations, banks, and even the High Court itself, reflecting the trust placed in his legal expertise.

His rise within the legal profession was swift. On July 7, 2000, he became the youngest Advocate General of Haryana. He was designated a senior advocate in March 2001, and on January 9, 2004, he was elevated as a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Justice Surya Kant later served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from October 5, 2018, until his elevation to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.

Administrative and Institutional Contributions

Beyond his judicial work, Justice Kant has been actively engaged in key legal and judicial institutions. He served two consecutive terms (2007–2011) as a member of the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA). He is also associated with several committees of the Indian Law Institute, a deemed university under the Supreme Court.

Since November 2024, he has served as Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee, contributing to legal aid, access to justice initiatives, and reforms in the legal services framework.