New Delhi, November 24, 2025. Justice Surya Kant sworn-in as 53rd CJIIndia: Justice Surya Kant (53rd Chief Justice of India) at Rashtrapati Bhavan; President Droupadi Murmu oath infor supply- Changale 1Image Credit(62972426)New Delhi: President, Droupadi Murmu administers the oath of office to the Chief Justice (CJI) of India, Justice Surya Kant, at Rashtrapati Bhavan; as he 53rd CJIis taking charge on November 12, 2023 to 15th CJI till 9, Feb 2027. Justice Kant is succeeding Justice B.R. Gavai, who retired from the Supreme Court on November 23, and now the court has more than 90,000 cases pending.
Attended among others by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, and VIPs from several countries including Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Malaysia, Brazil, and Kenya, the oath was a reminder of the vital place of the judiciary in the Indian democracy.
Justice Kant’s tenure will witness landmark judgments on Article 370 abrogation, Pegasus spyware probe, and electoral reforms during his 18-year-long career has practised in the Supreme Court and the High Courts across India and promised to improve alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and reduce pendency to “manageable levels.” Could his tenure redefine the efficiency of the judiciary, something the nation watches? And so, what has his journey been like, what does he prioritize, and what looms ahead?
A ceremony of swearing in but also of an end of an era and beginning of a new: That was Justice Surya kant’s swearing in ceremony where he was not only sworn in but instead an era also ended and began.
Gathering of Dignitaries: A Spectacle of Rashtrapati Bhavan Ahead of Historic Oath
The ceremony began at 10:30 AM with President Murmu administering the oath in Hindi and Justice Kant, donning the customary black robes, taking her constitutional oath. The new CJI replaced previous chief justice Gavai on the same day in a charming gesture, giving over the Supreme Court’s official vehicle to his successor after handing over charge. PM Modi, who also posted on X to congratulate Justice Surya Kant, wrote: —-Also Read:General’s Physical Battlefield Role Grows We wish him all the best in his service fighting for justice and the rule of law. More than half a million viewers took in the event on YouTube, where the Supreme Court live-streamed the event, a sign of public interest in the judiciary’s new helmsman.
There were, among others, Chief Justices from the neighbouring countries which is an exemplary of India’s diplomatic approach of judicial diplomacy. Haryana CM, coming from Justice Kant’s home state, said, “Justice Kant’s journey, from Hisar to the Supreme Court, inspires a million.” The family of the 63-year-old veteran judge, born and brought up in a middle-class family in Hisar on February 10, 1962, glowingly witnessed him signing the oath documents with unwavering hands, from the front row.
It is now under new ownership — the Supreme Court of India — the highest institution.
CJI Gavai Gets Emotional: Passes ‘Act’ On Road, With Its Many Implications.
The CJI Gavai, whose 7-month tenure was significant for observing that ‘Matters of sensitive nature should be disposed of at an early dates’ bid adieu with panache. In a short speech, he said, “My successor is carrying forth this creed: Justice delayed is justice denied.” Justice Kant also thanked Gavai for “creating the arena for joint justice”. The handover that also contained ceremonial mace was a semblance of continuity as the ethos of the Indian judiciary was traced back to the Constitution of 1950.
International watchers, including Nepal’s chief justice, lauded the efficiency of the ceremony and pointed to longer global transitions. And there, the future SC judge with bell tolls ringing and guided to the Supreme Court in the official car provided — That moment when the future sc judge was driven in car provided officially.
Justice Surya Kant’s Story: From Haryana High Court to The Apex Bench
Life History of a Doyen – From Hisar to Law Language Guru
Hailing from a lower middle-class household in Hisar, Haryana, Surya kant received his LLB from Kurukshetra University with a first division, ranking first in his batch. He was called to the Bar in 1985 and worked in civil, and constitutional law and went on to be appointed a Senior Advocate in 2003. Justice Mehtab Singh Gill-credit-judiciary-india APPointed as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004, he penned more than 500 judgments, several of them dealing with human rights and environmental law.
He was Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from 2018, until his appointment to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. With a career spanning over 6+ years on the apex bench, he has commandingly garnered respect across the bar as an intellectual jurist epitomising unbiased judgement.
Where Kant cut his judicial teeth, Punjab and Haryana High Court.
CONCLUDE Landmark Judgments in Democracy and Rights.
The bench of Justice Kant has pronounced landmark judgments. He upheld Centre’s abrogation of Article 370 (2023), supporting Parliament’s supremacy but underscoring federal balance. In 2021, while giving evidence in the Pegasus spyware probe, he had slammed state surveillance, saying “there cannot be a blank cheque for privacy violations disguised as national security.” Under electoral reforms, he was in the bench that ordered the revision of Bihar’s voter roll in 2025 and stressed on the need for transparency in the light of allegations against the SIR.
ALSO READ: Suspend sedition law (2022): SC seeks review of provisions, committee to probe PM Modi’s 2022 Punjab security breach, ruling on BBC docu free speech (Rounding up news for the day) His philosophy? Speculative in nature: “Justice should be fast, equitable and without fear.”
Jammu & Kashmir redefined — the Article 370 verdict
My priorities as CJI, Pendency and ADR
From 90k to ‘Manageable’: Justice Kant’s Promise on Pendency Crisis
Justice Kant’s No1 goal: 90,000+ appeal backlog in Supreme Court to be halved in 15 months After taking his oath, he pointed to technology integration—e-filing and AI case management—as key to tackling his greatest hurdle, thinking that “Bringing cases down to a size we can manage them.” At the very top are constitution benches (7-9 judges) for long-pending matters including the same-sex marriage reviews and farm laws echoes.
He sees hybrid hearings growing across the country and led to fewer adjournments. “Why must disputes reach courts? Kant reiterated ADR like mediation should settle 70%, referencing his High Court days when he introduced Lok Adalats which used to resolve 50,000 cases in a year.
Kant’s Judicial relief tool| Alternative Dispute Resolution.
JUDICIAL REFORMS DIVERSITY & TECHNOLOGY & GLOBAL REACH
Kant seeks to enhance the representation of women and SC/ST on the bench—of which, women judges constitute only 11%. Outlining a 20 per cent female appointment target by 2027, he called for “merit with diversity”. Case tracking on blockchain and VR based witness testimonies in sensitive trials are a part of the tech push.
On the international front, he will consolidate India-Bhutan-Nepal judicial exchanges and host a SAARC summit in 2026. He proposes “fast-track corridors” for National Defence Cases that would echo the sense of urgency of his past benches on civil pendency.
Meanwhile, as CJI, that visitor status will grow with Kant eventually mentoring judges of the future at Ranchi’s National University of Study and Research in Law.
Judicial Appointments Commission — reverberations of Kant’s vision of reform.
Importance of the Ceremony: New Phase of Indian Judiciary
Dignitaries & Tributes: Breaking Partisan Lines
That was reflected not just in presence but also in the guest list that went from PM Modi to Home Minister Amit Shah to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh—implying opposition support too. Former VP Jagdeep Dhankhar hailed Kant’s “equanimity in challenging times.” Regional ties were strengthened with the attendance of Chief Justices of Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.
Haryana’s pride fought against The CM Saini stated “sons of Hisar become the conscience-keeper of the nation”. Kant touched the feet of elders after taking oath, followed by teary-eyed families and bar members.
How is the transition from CJI Gavai: Legacy [and] Handover?
Sedition And Farm Cases In 100 DaysMINUTESJudges On BenchFocus On Speedy TrialsThe 5,000 Adjournments BusinessDone Via Virtual Hearings — Gavai’s Brief Tenure His gesture of handing over a vehicle symbolised mentorship. Present : Justice Gavai Kant (I/The Path Of Light: A Tribute to Justice Gavai)p.s.Govind(senior Advocate, #SC/p.s.Govind(2023);#SC/senior Advocate, #SC/PUBLISHED 15 minutes ago
On Pegasus and Article 370, the V and K benches were the same — Kant’s continuity promises stability.
New CJI sworn in by Droupadi Murmu – first tribal President
The Road Ahead: Pendency, Backlogs, Biases & International Pressure
Tech and ADR to the Rescue: The 90,000 Case Mountain.
India’s courts handle 5 crore+ pending cases; Supreme Court’s 90,000 is the tip. Kant’s ADR push—expanding Lok AdalatsIndia’s courts have more than 5 crore pending cases; the 90, 000 pending in the Supreme Court is just the tip of the iceberg.
Kant also called for a push for alternative dispute resolution (ADR), including Lok Adalats, to divert 30% of civil disputes away from courts, expanding the settlements through Lok Adalats to 1 crore adalat per year, which means a Lok Adalat every 30 seconds. Listing could be reduced by 20% just by sending similar cases to the same AI triage.to 1 crore settlements yearly—aims to divert 30% civil disputes. AI triage for similar cases could cut listings by 20%.
Real-time tracking of progress via NJDG upgrades What Kant meant to say is that pendency is not inevitable—it is a choice.
The battleground of Kant in the Indian Courts: The pendency
Diversity and Inclusion: Female Presence on the Bench
Kant aims for 20% by 2027, NJAC-like suggestions with only 11% women judges Lower judiciary SC/ST quotas will go upward. Women first appointed in his High Court days.
Kant Retires: Eyes Of The World On India As 2030 UN Global Judicial Access Goals Draw Near And E-Courts 3.0 Await A Pioneer
Justice Surya Kant’s Vision: Justice for All, Swift and Fair
Philosophical Shift: Less Litigation and More Mediation
Kant goes: “Why have courts if mediation will do? Inspired by the green benches of Himachal, he will lead nationwide ADR centres with the target of disposing 70% of cases outside court. He often cites that “justice delayed denies the right”.
PER Putting him under suspension in 2022 for sedition set precedent, with review pending, but still having an impact ON free speech
Sedition Law in India – Kant’s reform legacy.
India’s Sedition Law & Kantian legacy reform of Sedition Law
A 15 Month Mission in Impact: A Legacy in the Making
Kant aims 15 months: wants Constitution bench solution in privacy, Aadhaar and CAA His Haryana roots — Advocate General 2002-2004 — handle administrative bottlenecks to judiciary.
Kant now steps into the shoes of DY Chandrachud (post-2022) and inherits a court that changed dramatically because of virtual hearings. Justice is served by technology, not supplanted by it, or so he thinks.
Conclusion: Justice Surya Kant — a Role Model for a Fair Judiciary
Take the lead, Mr. Justice Surya Kant: Hope efficiency from the 53rd CJI amidst a pile-up of work From the classrooms of Hisar to the final gavel of the apex, the journey is a symbol of the victory of merit. ADR and pendency cuts are priorities that offer speedy re delivery of justice, while diversity pushes inclusivity. As the sound of silence descends upon Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kant’s oath rings: Defend the Constitution, Shield the powerless His steady hand might set the scales right in tumultuous moments. Do you simply hope he will speed things up, or do you want him to be bolder? Share below.
