NEW DELHI, Oct 27 — Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Monday recommended Justice Surya Kant, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, for appointment as his successor, sources said.
With just under a month left before Justice Gavai’s retirement, the Centre had last week formally initiated the process for selecting the next Chief Justice. Officials said the government wrote to CJI Gavai, who will demit office on November 23 upon attaining the age of 65, seeking his recommendation in line with established procedure.
Under the memorandum of procedure governing the appointment of judges, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court considered fit for the role is appointed as the Chief Justice of India.
Once the appointment is notified, Justice Surya Kant will assume charge as the 53rd Chief Justice on November 24 and is expected to serve till February 9, 2027.
Born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar district of Haryana, Justice Surya Kant comes from a middle-class background. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in law from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984.
He began his legal practice in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and earned the distinction of being appointed the youngest Advocate General of Haryana on July 7, 2000, at the age of 38. “Justice Surya Kant’s tenure as Advocate General and later as a High Court judge reflected both legal acumen and administrative skill,” said a senior court official familiar with his career.
Justice Kant was elevated to the Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004, and later appointed as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on October 5, 2018. He joined the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.
If confirmed, he will lead the judiciary for nearly 15 months, during which several key constitutional matters are expected to come up before the top court.
