The government of India has sent a formal communication to Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, requesting his recommendation for the appointment of the next Chief Justice.
This marks the official start of the process to appoint the new head of the judiciary, a step typically undertaken about a month before the incumbent demits office. CJI Gavai is set to retire on November 23.
In keeping with tradition, the outgoing CJI recommends the senior-most Supreme Court judge deemed suitable to assume the role. Based on seniority, Justice Surya Kant is next in line to become the 53rd Chief Justice of India and is expected to take charge after Justice Gavai’s retirement.
Currently on a four-day official visit to Bhutan, CJI Gavai is expected to send his recommendation to the government upon his return to New Delhi.
Under the Memorandum of Procedure that governs appointments to the higher judiciary, the GoI Law Minister, Kiren Rijiju, formally seeks the outgoing CJI’s recommendation to ensure a smooth transition in judicial leadership.
Justice Surya Kant, born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar, Haryana, began his legal career at the Hisar District Court in 1984 before moving to the Punjab and Haryana High Court a year later. Renowned for his proficiency in constitutional, service, and civil law, he represented various universities, corporations, and government bodies and became Haryana’s youngest Advocate General in 2000.
He was appointed as a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004, and later served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from October 5, 2018, until his elevation to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.
Justice Surya Kant is set to retire on February 9, 2027, giving him a tenure of nearly 15 months as Chief Justice of India if appointed. He has also been serving as the Chairman of the Supreme Court Legal Services Committee since November 2024.
