Justice Surya Kant is set to assume office as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on 24 November 2025, succeeding Justice B. R. Gavai. His appointment is historic as he will be the first person from Haryana to hold the highest judicial office in the country.
From humble Haryana roots to the Supreme Court
Born on 10 February 1962 in Petwar, a small village in Hisar district of Haryana, Surya Kant grew up in modest circumstances. His father was a Sanskrit teacher; his mother, a homemaker. As a child, he studied in a village school with no benches students sat on the floor. Even while in school, he helped with farm work to support his family.
He graduated from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar in 1981, and went on to earn his LL.B. from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984.
A steady legal climb
Justice Kant began his legal career in 1984, practicing at the District Court in Hisar. Just a year later, he shifted to Chandigarh to work in the Punjab & Haryana High Court, specializing in constitutional, service, and civil
At just 38 years old, he became the youngest Advocate General of Haryana on 7 July 2000, and a year later, was designated a senior advocate. In 2004, he was appointed a permanent Judge of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.
In 2007, he was nominated to the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) for two terms terms (2007-2011)
Academic excellence and judicial leadership
Never one to set aside learning, Justice Kant completed his LL.M. in 2011 via distance education from Kurukshetra University, graduating First Class First.
He became Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on 5 October 2018. On 24 May 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India.
As of 12 November 2024, he also serves as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee.
Personal life & values
Justice Kant comes from a close-knit family. According to his profile, he is one of five siblings. He is married to Savita Sharma, a retired college lecturer and principal, and they have two daughters, both pursuing postgraduate law education. Notably, he refused to accept dowry when he married a testimony to his strong moral principles.
What Drives Him
Colleagues and observers describe Justice Surya Kant as a jurist of “deep learning” and “measured wisdom.” He has shown a special sensitivity to public resource protection, land acquisition, compensation rights, and reservation policies.
His background growing up in rural Haryana, studying by the dim light of lamps, and working through adversity gives him a grounded understanding of the struggles ordinary citizens face. As he steps into his role as Chief Justice, many hope his life story will influence a more accessible, empathetic, and principled judiciary.
Justice Surya Kant’s journey from a modest village school to the Supreme Court’s top post is a powerful reminder that perseverance, integrity, and commitment to learning can shape not just a career, but the future of a nation’s justice system.