Surya Kant sworn in as nation’s new top judge, becoming the 53rd to hold office

Justice Surya Kant took oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Monday morning. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath at a formal ceremony attended by Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several Union ministers. His appointment marks the rise of a village boy from Haryana to the highest judicial office in the country.

Justice Kant has been part of many important constitutional rulings during his time in the Supreme Court. These include cases related to the abrogation of Article 370, the Pegasus spyware issue, and the revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. His judgments have often shaped discussions on constitutional interpretation and civil liberties.

Born on February 10, 1962, in Petwar village of Hisar district, Justice Kant’s early education took place in local government schools. He completed his law degree from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984 and began practising law in the Hisar district courts. Later, he moved to Chandigarh to practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where he handled constitutional, service, and civil matters.

His professional growth was rapid. In 2000, at just 38, he became the youngest advocate general of Haryana. The following year, he was designated a senior advocate. In 2004, he was appointed as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. In 2018, he took charge as the chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, and in May 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court.

During his six years in the Supreme Court, Justice Kant wrote more than 300 judgments. These included major constitutional matters such as the verdict upholding the abrogation of Article 370 and the decision on Section 6A of the Citizenship Act. He was also part of the bench that granted interim bail to former Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and upheld the legality of his arrest. Recently, he served on the bench that gave an important ruling on the presidential reference regarding timelines for governors and the President to clear state bills.

While serving as the executive chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Justice Kant launched the Veer Parivar Sahayata Yojana 2025. This scheme aims to provide free legal support to soldiers, veterans, and their families, reflecting his commitment to public service and welfare.

New CJI outlines priorities: reducing pendency and promoting mediation

A day before taking office, Justice Kant discussed his vision in an interview. He said that his approach to judging is shaped by two qualities he learned early in life: the patience of a farmer and the empathy of a poet. He explained that growing up on a farm taught him that all things take time and must be handled with care. Similarly, he believes that justice must follow its natural process and cannot be rushed. He added that a poet’s empathy helps him understand the human stories behind legal disputes, allowing him to balance legal reasoning with compassion.

Sharing his top priorities, the new CJI said that the Supreme Court currently has nearly 90,000 pending cases, and reducing this backlog is one of his biggest challenges. He plans to ensure that the full strength of the court is used effectively and that cases stuck in the Supreme Court do not block proceedings in lower courts. He said he will identify old and pending matters, form appropriate benches, and make sure they are decided promptly.

Justice Kant also wants to revive the practice where litigants first approach high courts and lower courts before coming to the Supreme Court. He believes that strengthening these institutions will improve the overall justice delivery system.

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The new CJI also emphasised the need for discipline within the judiciary. According to him, courts function best when judges work as a collective body rather than as individuals. Consistency, efficiency, and discipline, he said, are essential for maintaining public trust in the institution.

Justice Kant has a strong interest in improving court administration. As a former chief justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, he is known for effective management and structural reforms. He said that even small improvements—such as better case management, timely hearings, upgraded infrastructure, and wider use of digital tools—can greatly improve how courts function.

He stressed that technology should play a bigger role in the judicial process. Digital case management, faster communication, and online record systems can speed up case disposal and reduce delays. He added that judges and court staff must be well-prepared and punctual to ensure smooth functioning.

Another key focus area for the new CJI is mediation. Justice Kant believes that mediation can reduce the burden on courts and help parties reach peaceful solutions without prolonged litigation. He said that government departments, which are major litigants, must also be encouraged to use mediation more often. According to him, promoting mediation could become a “game changer” in reducing pendency.

Apart from these operational priorities, Justice Kant highlighted the human side of the judiciary. He believes that while judges must interpret the law neutrally, they must also remain aware of the wider social realities affecting people. To him, fairness and empathy go hand in hand, and both are necessary to deliver meaningful justice.

As he begins his term, Justice Surya Kant carries the responsibility of leading the judiciary at a time when expectations from the Supreme Court are high. His focus on efficiency, technology, mediation, and human-centered judging reflects a clear vision for reform. With his extensive experience and grounded philosophy, he hopes to guide the court toward greater discipline, faster justice, and deeper public trust.