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New Delhi: Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai on Monday recommended the name of Justice Surya Kant as his successor to the Centre, paving the way for Justice Kant to become the 53rd Chief Justice of India.
The recommendation comes in response to the Law Ministry seeking suggestions from CJI Gavai for his successor as he is scheduled to retire on November 23.
Justice Surya Kant, currently the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court and the next judge in the order of seniority, will take over on the retirement of Justice Gavai.
Once the Center issues the official notification, Justice Kant will take oath as the new Chief Justice of India on November 24. He is expected to serve in the top judicial post till his retirement on February 9, 2027 – the tenure will be about 14 months.
Justice Gavai took charge as the 52nd Chief Justice of India in May 2025.
As per tradition, the Law Ministry writes to the sitting Chief Justice a month before his retirement, seeking the name of the next senior-most judge eligible for the post.
After this, the Chief Justice formally recommends the name to the government for approval.
According to the Memorandum of Procedure (MOP) governing judicial appointments and transfers, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court considered suitable to hold the post should be appointed as the Chief Justice of India.
With CJI Gavai’s recommendation now going ahead, it is expected that the government will soon notify the appointment of Justice Surya Kant.
Born on February 10, 1962, in a middle-class family in Haryana, Justice Kant graduated from the Government Post Graduate College, Hisar in 1981 and obtained a law degree from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak in 1984.
According to Justice Kant’s profile on the official website of the Supreme Court, he started his legal practice in the District Court of Hisar in 1984 and later moved to Chandigarh in 1985 to practice in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Over the years, he gained expertise in constitutional, service and civil matters and represented several universities, boards, corporations, banks and even the High Court. Justice Kant achieved the distinction of becoming the youngest Advocate General of Haryana on 7 July 2000.
He was designated as a senior advocate in March 2001 and served as Advocate General until he was elevated as a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004.
He also served as a member of the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for two consecutive terms from February 2007 to February 2011 and is currently a member of several committees of the Indian Law Institute – a deemed university functioning under the Supreme Court of India.
Justice Kant took charge as the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court on October 5, 2018 and was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. He has served as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee since November 12, 2024, and is scheduled to retire on February 9, 2027.
–IANS