Justice Surya Kant, a prominent judge of the Supreme Court, has been designated as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. He is set to take office on November 24, 2025, following Chief Justice BR Gavai, and will remain in the position until February 9, 2027.
On Monday, Chief Justice Gavai proposed Justice Surya Kant, the most senior judge in the Supreme Court, as his replacement to lead the judiciary.
The Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal announced the appointment on X, stating, “In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India, as the Chief Justice of India effective from 24th November, 2025.” He offered his “heartiest congratulations and best wishes” to the incoming Chief Justice.
Hailing from Haryana, Justice Kant has previously served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and was a judge at the Punjab and Haryana High Court before his elevation to the Supreme Court in May 2019. Renowned for his incisive judicial reasoning and commitment to social justice, he has participated in numerous Constitution Bench proceedings and significant rulings regarding governance, environmental challenges, and constitutional interpretation.
During his tenure as Chief Justice, Justice Kant will oversee the Supreme Court for more than 14 months, a period during which several crucial constitutional issues, including electoral reforms, criminal justice, and digital privacy, are expected to be addressed.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, the current head of the judiciary, is anticipated to step down from his role on November 23, 2025.