Surya Kant Becomes India’s 53rd Chief Justice; Oath Taken

Monday marked a new chapter for the Supreme Court of India as Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as its 53rd Chief Justice. He officially succeeded Justice B.R. Gavai, who retired the previous evening. The oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, attended by Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and several cabinet members. Justice Kant is set to serve for about 15 months, with his tenure concluding on February 9, 2027. His career highlights include contributions to landmark judgments on the revocation of Article 370, the Bihar voter list, and the Pegasus spyware controversy. In a touching gesture, Justice Surya Kant paid respects to his elders by touching their feet after the oath. The ceremony was also attended by esteemed judicial representatives from Bhutan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, reinforcing international judicial connections.