Meet Justice Surya Kant, the Man Behind Landmark Verdicts Who is Set to Be India’s Next Chief Justice:

The Supreme Court of India is about to witness a significant transition. With the retirement of current Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud later this year, a new era will begin. And at its helm will be a judge known for his firm decisions, a remarkable journey from a small village to the highest court in the land, and his presence on the benches of some of India’s most consequential cases.

Meet Justice Surya Kant, who is slated to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI).

While he won’t be the immediate successor to CJI Chandrachud (Justice Sanjiv Khanna will serve a short term), Justice Surya Kant is next in line and is expected to have a significantly long tenure, leading the Indian judiciary from May 2025 until his retirement in February 2027—a period of nearly 21 months.

So, who is the man who will soon be leading the country's judiciary?

A Journey From a Haryana Village to the Supreme Court

Justice Surya Kant’s story isn't one of inherited privilege but of sheer hard work and determination. Born in a small village in Haryana's Hisar district, his journey in the world of law began in the corridors of the Hisar district court in 1984.

His legal acumen saw him rise swiftly through the ranks. In 2000, he became the youngest-ever Advocate General for the state of Haryana. A few years later, in 2004, he was appointed as a permanent judge to the Punjab and Haryana High Court. After a successful stint there, he was made the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 2018 before finally being elevated to the Supreme Court of India in May 2019.

The Landmark Cases That Define His Legacy

In his time at the Supreme Court, Justice Surya Kant has been a part of benches that have delivered verdicts on some of the most critical and talked-about issues facing the nation.

With his long and impactful tenure as the Chief Justice on the horizon, the nation will be watching closely as Justice Surya Kant takes the helm, steering the Indian judiciary through the complex challenges that lie ahead.