Justice Surya Kant took oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on Monday, succeeding Justice B.R. Gavai, who retired on Sunday evening. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath at a brief ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several ministers from his cabinet also attended the ceremony.

Kant appointed on October 30, he will serve for nearly 15 months and demit office on February 9, 2027, upon turning 65.

He was also a part of key verdicts on the abrogation of Article 370, Bihar electoral roll revision, and the Pegasus spyware case.

After taking the oath, Justice Surya Kant touched the feet of his elder family members, adding an emotional and traditional gesture to the ceremony.

The event also saw significant international participation, with judicial representatives from several countries in attendance. From Bhutan, Chief Justice Lyonpo Norbu Tshering and Lhaden Lotay were present. Kenya was represented by Chief Justice Martha Koome and Justice Susan Njoki Ndungu.

Malaysia sent Justice Tan Sri Datuk Nallini Pathmanathan and Pasupathy Sivapragasam, while Mauritius was represented by Chief Justice Bibi Rehana Mungly-Gulbul and Rebecca Hanna Bibi Gulbul. The Nepalese delegation included Chief Justice Prakash Man Singh Raut, Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla, Ashok Bahadur Malla, Anil Kumar Sinha, and Ursila Sinha.

Sri Lanka’s delegation comprised Chief Justice P. Padman Suresena, Sepalika Surasena, Justice S. Thurairaja, Sasikala Thurairaja, Judge A.H.M.D. Nawaz, and Rizan Mohamed Dhilip Nawaz.

Who Is Surya Kant?

Justice Surya Kant, born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar, Haryana, has risen from a small-town legal career to the nation’s highest judicial position. Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, he served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and earlier delivered several notable judgments at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.