NEW DELHI: (Oct 27) Chief Justice of India BR Gavai has recommended Justice Surya Kant as his successor, setting the stage for the latter to take charge as the 51st Chief Justice of India upon Gavai’s retirement on November 23.
Justice Surya Kant, who was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, will have a tenure of over 14 months, serving until February 9, 2027 — one of the longer recent terms for a Chief Justice.
Born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar, Haryana, Justice Kant comes from a middle-class family. He graduated from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, in 1981, and completed his LLB from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984.
He began his legal practice at the Hisar District Court in 1984 and moved to the Punjab and Haryana High Court the following year. Recognized for his sharp legal acumen, he was designated a Senior Advocate in 2001 and appointed Advocate General of Haryana soon after.
Justice Kant was elevated as a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in January 2004. He later served as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from October 2018 until his elevation to the Supreme Court in May 2019.
Known for his balanced judgments and focus on constitutional values, Justice Kant has handled several landmark cases during his tenure in the apex court, particularly those involving governance, civil liberties, and administrative law.