Affection of ancestral village and the blessings of elders are the greatest wealth of life: CJI Justice Surya Kant

Chandigarh, January 2026 – A grand felicitation ceremony was organized in honour of the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, at his ancestral village Petwar, in Hansi. On his arrival in the village, Justice Surya Kant received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the villagers. Accompanied by drum beats, he was escorted to the main stage, where the villagers honoured him by presenting a traditional turban.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Justice Justice Surya Kant expressed his gratitude to his village, teachers, parents, elders, and fellow villagers. Sharing the struggles of his student life, he said that despite limited resources, the dedication of his teachers and the blessings of elders inspired him to move forward.

He said that education is the greatest investment and every family must give the highest priority to the education of their children. He called upon society to collectively support economically weak but talented children in pursuing higher education and also announced personal financial assistance for this purpose. Describing children as the future of the nation, he said he firmly believes that they will bring glory to Haryana and the country at national and international levels in the future. He encouraged youth to advance in fields such as the armed forces, medicine, engineering, civil services, and other professions. He expressed confidence that education, healthcare, and basic infrastructure in the village would witness further development in the coming times. Thanking the organizing committee, villagers, and the administration, he said that the affection of the village and the blessings of elders are the greatest wealth of his life.

Recalling his school days, Chief Justice Justice Surya Kant said that he studied up to Class X in the same school and would always remain emotionally attached to it. He said that although facilities in schools were limited during those times, teachers were deeply committed to teaching. He reminisced that students studied in a large hall where paddy straw was spread on the floor, and teachers taught till late at night to ensure that the school’s results were better than those of other schools in the region.

During the event, several demands related to village development were placed, including construction of a Community Health Centre on one acre of land near the bus stand, demolition of the old building of the Government Senior Secondary School and construction of a new one, development of a herbal park behind the Doba pond, establishment of an e-library, beautification of the Doba and Dobi ponds, and installation of solar panels in the Government Girls Senior Secondary School. On these demands, Chief Justice Justice Surya Kant said that he had met the Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini the previous day, who assured that all demands raised for the village would be fulfilled.

Education Minister Sh. Mahipal Dhanda welcomed Justice Surya Kant and other dignitaries and announced that the Government Senior Secondary School of the village would be developed as a Model Sanskriti School. On this occasion, Chief Justice Justice Surya Kant also honoured meritorious children. Earlier, Justice Surya Kant offered prayers at the village temple.

Union Law Minister Sh. Arjun Ram Meghwal, while welcoming Justice Surya Kant, said that he had interacted with him several times and that his words always carry the fragrance of the village. He appealed to children to take inspiration from the life of Justice Surya Kant, stating that his journey is a source of motivation. He emphasized that hard work is the key to success and urged everyone to pursue their goals with dedication and passion.

Cabinet Minister Sh. Ranbir Gangwa said that every milestone can be achieved through hard work, and Justice Surya Kant has proved this through his life. He said that today Justice Surya Kant has become a source of inspiration for every young person. He assured that all demands raised for village development during the ceremony would be fulfilled on a priority basis.

During the ceremony, children proudly displayed a painting of Chief Justice Justice Surya Kant that they had created with their own hands. As soon as Justice Surya Kant noticed them, he waved, called them onto the stage, and affectionately honoured them. During the program, Justice Surya Kant’s wife, Smt. Savita Vashisht, was also honoured by the village. Singer Lokesh Sharma presented a song based on the life of Justice Surya Kant in his honor.

On this occasion, Punjab and Haryana High Court Chief Justice Sheel Nagu, Punjab and Haryana High Court Judge Harsimran Singh Sethi, Cabinet Minister Sh. Arvind Sharma, Safidon MLA Sh. Ramkumar Gautam, MLA Sh. Randhir Panihar and Narnaund MLA Sh. Jassi Petwar, Administrative Judge of Hisar Division Alka Sareen, District and Sessions Judge Hisar Alka Malik, ADJ Nishant Sharma, CJM Ashok Kumar, CJM Rajiv Shyokand, Zila Parishad Chairman Sonu Sihag Data, former Rajya Sabha MP D.P. Vats, former MLA Shiv Shankar Bhardwaj, Deputy Commissioner Rahul Narwal, Superintendent of Police Amit Yashvardhan, SDM Vikas Yadav, former Chairman Satbir Verma, Hansi Bar Association President Pawan Rapadiya, Hisar Bar Association President Sandeep Bura, Master Rishikant, Master Phulkumar, Sarpanch representative Satbir Singh, several judges, administrative officers, and many distinguished citizens of the region were present.