Justice Surya Kant has been appointed as the Chief Justice of India (CJI) by the President of India. Today, he will take the oath as the nation's 53rd CJI, succeeding former CJI B. R. Gavai. His tenure will last for 14 months, as Justice Surya Kant is due to retire in February 2027. He has presided over several crucial nationwide cases as a judge and will continue to face significant national interest cases as challenges.
In his career, Justice Surya Kant became Haryana's Advocate General at the age of just 38. Hailing from Haryana, he was born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar. Consequently, he will serve in this position for only 14 months, during which he will face several significant cases that will pose substantial challenges.
The SIR and Waqf Act Cases: A Major Challenge
The ongoing SIR issues nationwide have sparked opposition in various regions, reaching the Supreme Court. Handling this issue will be a pivotal case for Justice Surya Kant as CJI. Similarly, the Waqf Act case will stand as a significant challenge.
The Triple Talaq Issue Holds Importance
Beyond this, environmental pollution issues in Delhi-NCR are stalled in the Supreme Court, where Justice Surya Kant's verdict is eagerly awaited. Additionally, the ongoing case concerning Triple Talaq is a crucial matter. This practice allows a husband to end the marriage by declaring 'talaq' thrice within three months, with its legality being challenged.
Important Verdicts in Bihar SIR, Article 370, and AMU Cases
Justice Surya Kant has played a crucial role in hearing cases of national significance, delivering over 300 important judgments, addressing constitution, administration, and social justice issues. Justice Surya Kant's bench upheld the decision to revoke Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
In the Bihar SIR case, Justice Surya Kant directed the disclosure of details about names removed from the voter list. Additionally, he played a key role in hearings concerning Section 144 and the Tribal Minority Act, particularly in the liquor policy case where former Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal was granted bail.
Significant Role in Pegasus Case
Justice Surya Kant was part of the bench hearing the Pegasus spying case, which involved appointing a committee of experts for investigation. He expressed that the government could not be granted unlimited powers under the guise of national security.
The Beginning
In 2018, Justice Surya Kant became the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court. He pursued law studies at Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, and completed LL.M. at Kurukshetra University in 2011. He began his legal practice in 1984 starting at the Hisar District Court and later practiced at Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh.
Appointed Supreme Court Judge in 2019
In 2000, he became Haryana's Advocate General, and in March 2001, the Bar Council recognized him as a Senior Advocate for his legal expertise. In January 2004, he was appointed a judge in Punjab and Haryana High Court. In May 2019, Justice Surya Kant was promoted from Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court to a judge of the Supreme Court.
