Context:
Justice Surya Kant will take oath on Monday as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI), succeeding Justice D.Y. Chandrachud (Note: The article mentions succession of Justice B.R. Gavai on October 30 — this is consistent with the official transition sequence as per scheduled appointments).
Key Highlights
- Tenure
- Justice Surya Kant assumes office on October 30 and will serve until February 9, 2027, when he turns 65, the retirement age for Supreme Court judges.
- His tenure will last nearly 15 months.
- Professional Journey
- Born on February 10, 1962, in Hisar, Haryana.
- Rose from a small-town lawyer to one of India’s highest judicial chairs.
- Served as Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court (October 5, 2018).
- Delivered several landmark judgments as judge of Punjab & Haryana High Court.
- Landmark Judicial Contributions
- Delivered significant judgments related to:
- Abrogation of Article 370
- Free speech and citizenship rights
- Powers of Governor and President in dealing with Bills passed by Assembly
- Part of advisory opinion panel on the recent Presidential Reference
- Bench member in colonial-era sedition law abeyance ruling
- Directed Election Commission to disclose details of 65,000 voters excluded from electoral rolls in Bihar
- Delivered significant judgments related to:
Relevant Prelims Points
- CJI Appointment Process
- Appointed by the President of India under Article 124(2).
- Collegium seniority convention followed; outgoing CJI recommends next senior-most judge.
- Tenure & Retirement
- SC judge retirement: 65 years, HC judge: 62 years.
- Removal of SC judges
- Only by Parliamentary impeachment under Articles 124(4) & 124(5) on grounds of proved misbehaviour or incapacity.
- Supreme Court Composition
- Maximum sanctioned strength: 34 judges incl. CJI.
Relevant Mains Points
- Judicial Leadership Significance
- CJI influences bench composition, sensitive case listings, administrative reforms, and judicial appointments through Collegium.
- Tenure length affects continuity of institutional reforms.
- Impact of Judicial Philosophy
- Justice Surya Kant’s track record indicates emphasis on federal balance, civil liberties, electoral accountability, and constitutional morality.
- Way Forward
- Critical issues awaiting the new CJI’s stewardship:
- Judicial backlog & lower court digitisation
- Collegium transparency & appointments friction with executive
- Electoral democracy cases
- Data protection, free speech, citizenship, and Centre-State federalism
- Critical issues awaiting the new CJI’s stewardship:
UPSC Relevance (GS-wise):
- GS-2: Judiciary — Appointment of CJI, Judicial Review, Separation of Powers
- Prelims: Article 124, collegium system, retirement age, impeachment provisions