Surya Kant Becomes 53rd Chief Justice of India: Noted for Article 370–SIR Rulings**
Justice Surya Kant to Take Oath as Chief Justice of India Today, Succeeds Justice BR Gavai: Justice Surya Kant will be sworn in as the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday, succeeding Justice BR Gavai, who retired on Sunday evening. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office and secrecy. Appointed as the next CJI on October 30, Justice Surya Kant will serve a 15-month tenure, holding office until February 9, 2027.
Born on February 10, 1962, in Haryana’s Hisar district, Justice Surya Kant rose from a modest, middle-class background to occupy the highest judicial office in the country. Known for his academic excellence, he secured a First in First Class distinction in his LL.M. from Kurukshetra University in 2011. After authoring several significant judgments in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, he went on to serve as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from October 5, 2018.
A Tenure Marked by Key Constitutional Decisions
Justice Surya Kant’s term as a Supreme Court judge has been marked by participation in several high-profile and nationally significant cases. He was part of the benches that delivered major verdicts on:
- The abrogation of Article 370
- The suspension of the sedition law, directing no new FIRs until government review
- The Pegasus spyware probe, forming a committee of cyber experts
- Issues involving freedom of expression and citizenship rights
He was also part of the bench that heard the President’s advisory case, involving the powers of Governors and the President regarding state legislation—a judgment expected to have far-reaching implications for all Indian states.
Championing Electoral Transparency and Gender Justice
Justice Surya Kant directed the Election Commission to make public the details of 6.5 million voters excluded from Bihar’s draft electoral rolls during the Special Intensive Revision (SIR). He also reinstated a wrongfully removed woman sarpanch, emphasizing gender equality and fair grassroots governance.
In a landmark direction for gender representation in the legal community, he mandated one-third reservation for women in all bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association.
Key Contributions to National Security and Defence Matters
Justice Surya Kant was on the bench that appointed a committee led by former Justice Indu Malhotra to investigate the 2022 security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab. He also upheld the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme as constitutionally valid and continued to hear cases involving permanent commission rights for women officers in the armed forces.
He was also part of the seven-judge bench that struck down the 1967 AMU judgment, paving the way for a fresh evaluation of the university’s minority status.
As he prepares to take charge as the 51st Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant’s long judicial career—marked by constitutional clarity, gender justice, and accountability—sets the stage for a significant and impactful tenure ahead.
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