Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R. Gavai on Monday initiated the process of appointing his successor by recommending Justice Surya Kant, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, to the Union government.
Justice Surya Kant, next in line by seniority, will assume office after Justice Gavai’s retirement on November 23. Once notified by the government, he will become the 53rd Chief Justice of India, with a tenure lasting until February 9, 2027.
Sources said that CJI Gavai handed over a copy of his recommendation to Justice Kant on Monday morning. The recommendation follows the Union government’s October 23 letter requesting Justice Gavai to name his successor, in line with established convention.
Describing Justice Kant as “suited and competent in all aspects to take the helm,” CJI Gavai said his successor “will be an asset to the institution.” He also noted their shared humble backgrounds, adding that Justice Kant’s life experience gives him a deep understanding of people’s struggles and faith in the judiciary.
Justice Gavai became the 52nd CJI in May 2025. As per convention, the law ministry seeks the outgoing CJI’s recommendation about a month before retirement. The Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) mandates that the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, if considered fit, be appointed as the next Chief Justice of India.
Justice Surya Kant, who will be the first person from Haryana to hold the top judicial post, has had a distinguished career marked by legal acumen and administrative excellence. He became the youngest Advocate General of Haryana at 38 and was elevated as a judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004. He later earned a first-class master’s degree in law from Kurukshetra University in 2011.
After serving over 14 years as a high court judge, he became Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in October 2018 and was elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2019. Known for his humility, even temperament, and administrative skill, Justice Kant is widely respected for promoting efficiency and consistency in the judiciary.
Following the government’s formal notification, Justice Kant is expected to take oath as the next Chief Justice of India on November 24, marking a new chapter in the leadership of the Indian judiciary.