New Delhi: The central government has kicked off the process to choose the next Chief Justice of India (CJI). Current CJI Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is set to retire on November 23, 2025, and the selection for his successor has begun a month in advance, as is the norm. Justice Surya Kant, the most senior Supreme Court judge after CJI Gavai, is likely to take over as the next CJI.
According to the rules laid out in official documents, the CJI post goes to the most senior Supreme Court judge deemed suitable for the role. The Union Law Minister typically asks the outgoing CJI for their recommendation on who should follow. Following this tradition, CJI Gavai has reportedly suggested Justice Surya Kant as his successor.
Born in a Simple Haryana Family
Justice Surya Kant was born on February 10, 1962, into a middle-class family in Hisar, Haryana. He is currently the second most senior judge in the Supreme Court. He completed his graduation in 1981 from the Government Post Graduate College in Hisar. In 1984, he earned his law degree from Maharshi Dayanand University in Rohtak. That same year, he began practicing law at the district court in Hisar. In 1985, he moved to Chandigarh to practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Former Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court
As per the Supreme Court’s website, Justice Surya Kant is an expert in constitutional, service, and civil law cases. He has represented various universities, boards, corporations, banks, and even the High Court itself. On July 7, 2000, he became Haryana’s youngest Advocate General. In March 2001, he was named a senior advocate. He continued as Advocate General until January 9, 2004, when he was appointed a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
From February 23, 2007, to February 22, 2011, he served two terms as a member of the governing body of the National Legal Services Authority. On October 5, 2018, he became the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court. He was elevated to a Supreme Court judge on May 24, 2019, and will retire on February 9, 2027, at the age of 65. If appointed, Justice Surya Kant’s term as CJI is expected to last about 14 months.
