The process for appointing the next Chief Justice of India has begun, with CJI Bhushan R Gavai formally recommending Justice Surya Kant to succeed him. The move clears the way for Justice Kant to become the 53rd Chief Justice of India.
CJI Gavai’s recommendation follows a communication from the Law Ministry, which traditionally seeks the outgoing Chief Justice’s choice about a month before retirement.
Justice Gavai will likely demit office on 23 November 2025.
By virtue of seniority, Justice Surya Kant, currently the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, is next in line for the position. He is expected to take the oath of office on 24 November 2025, the day after Justice Gavai’s retirement.
His tenure will run until 9 February 2027, giving him a term of roughly 14 months.
Justice Gavai assumed charge as the 52nd Chief Justice of India in May 2025, and his recommendation of the senior-most eligible judge aligns with the convention outlined in the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) governing judicial appointments.
According to this protocol, the senior-most suitable judge assumes the position of Chief Justice of India.
With the recommendation now with the government, an official notification confirming Justice Kant’s appointment is likely to be issued soon.
Early Life and Education
Born on 10 February 1962 in Haryana, Justice Kant comes from a middle-class background. He 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 practising law at the Hisar District Court the same year and moved to Chandigarh in 1985 to pursue cases at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
As noted in his Supreme Court profile, his legal career spanned a broad range of constitutional, service, and civil matters, and he represented several major institutions, including banks, universities, and government bodies.
In July 2000, he became the youngest Advocate General of Haryana and designated a Senior Advocate in March 2001. His elevation to the Punjab and Haryana High Court as a permanent judge came on 9 January 2004.
Justice Kant also played a key role in promoting legal aid during his tenure as a member of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) from 2007 to 2011, and he continues to contribute to committees of the Indian Law Institute, which functions under the Supreme Court’s aegis.
He became Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on 5 October 2018 and joined the Supreme Court of India on 24 May 2019.
Since 12 November 2024, Justice Kant has been serving as Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee. He will retire on 9 February 2027.
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