The Central government on Thursday cleared the appointment of Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI). He will occupy the top post with effect from November 24.

The development was announced by Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal via X.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court of India as the Chief Justice of India with effect from 24th November, 2025. I convey my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to him," Meghwal said.

This was pursuant to the recommendation made by incumbent CJI BR Gavai who wrote to the Union Law Ministry earlier this week recommending Justice Surya Kant to take over as CJI upon the former's retirement on November 23.

Justice Surya Kant was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019.

His tenure at the Supreme Court lasts till February 9, 2027. Hence, he will serve as the Chief Justice of India for a relatively long tenure of over 14 months.

Justice Kant was born on February 10, 1962 at Hisar in Haryana in a middle class family.  He graduated from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar in 1981.  He earned Bachelor’s degree in law in 1984  from Maharishi Dayanand University at Rohtak. 

Justice Kant started practicing law at the Hisar District Court in 1984.  He shifted his practice to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1985.

He was designated as Senior Advocate in March 2001. He held the office of Advocate General of Haryana till his elevation as a permanent Judge to the Punjab and Haryana High Court on January 9, 2004.

He was made the Chief Justice of the High Court of Himachal Pradesh with effect from October 5, 2018 before he was elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2019.