File photo
Justice Surya Kant, a judge known for his role in several landmark constitutional and civil liberties rulings, will on Monday be sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India. He succeeds Justice BR Gavai, who demits office on Sunday evening. Appointed as the next CJI on October 30, Justice Kant will have a relatively long tenure of nearly 15 months, serving until February 9, 2027, when he turns 65. Born on February 10, 1962, in Haryana’s Hisar district, Justice Surya Kant rose from a modest background to the country’s highest judicial office. Before his elevation, he practised as a lawyer in Hisar and subsequently at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, where he delivered several influential judgments. In 2018, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh high court.His time in the Supreme Court has been defined by involvement in key cases that shaped national policy, constitutional interpretation and civil liberties.
Article 370 verdict
Justice Kant was part of the historic bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370, which removed Jammu & Kashmir’s special status. The judgment remains one of the most consequential constitutional rulings of recent times.
Sedition law on hold
He was on the bench that effectively suspended the colonial-era sedition law, directing states and the Centre not to register new FIRs under Section 124A IPC until the government completed a reconsideration of the provision. The order was widely viewed as a major push for free speech.
Pegasus spyware case
Justice Kant was also part of the bench that heard the Pegasus surveillance allegations. The court appointed a committee of cyber experts to investigate the claims, remarking that the state cannot be given a “free pass in the name of national security.”
Bihar electoral rolls revision
In another significant order, Justice Kant asked the Election Commission to disclose details of 65 lakh voters dropped from Bihar’s draft rolls during a Special Intensive Revision, stressing the importance of transparency in electoral processes.
Gender justice and local governance
He led a bench that reinstated a woman sarpanch removed from office unlawfully, calling out gender bias in the decision. He later directed that one-third of seats in bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association, be reserved for women—an unprecedented push for gender equity within the legal fraternity.
Governor–president powers reference
Justice Kant was part of the Constitution Bench hearing the presidential reference on the powers of Governors and the President in dealing with state legislation—an issue with wide political and federal implications. The verdict is awaited.
Security breach in PM Modi’s convoy
He was also on the bench that appointed a panel headed by Justice Indu Malhotra to probe the 2022 security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Punjab, noting that such sensitive matters require judicial scrutiny.
One rank-one pension (OROP)
Justice Kant upheld the One Rank-One Pension (OROP) scheme as constitutionally valid, while continuing to hear matters related to women officers seeking parity in permanent commission in the armed forces.
AMU minority status reconsideration
On a seven-judge bench, Justice Kant helped overturn the 1967 Aligarh Muslim University ruling, paving the way for a fresh examination of AMU’s minority status. Go to Source
