Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan R Gavai has begun the formal process of appointing his successor by recommending Justice Surya Kant, the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, to the Union government, Hindustan Times reported. The recommendation marks the outgoing chief justice’s final administrative responsibility before he retires next month.
When will Justice Surya Kant take office?
Justice Surya Kant, who is second in seniority, is expected to take oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India after the retirement of Justice Gavai on 23 November.
Once the government announces the appointment, Justice Surya Kant will serve the term till February 9, 2027, giving him around 14 months in office.
Justice Surya Kant, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on 24 May 2019, will have a tenure of over 1.2 years as CJI. He is scheduled to retire on February 9, 2027.
The retirement age of judges of the Supreme Court is 65.
Justice Gavai took over as the 52nd Chief Justice of India in May 2025.
According to a Hindustan Times report, citing people in the know, CJI Gavai is set to personally hand over a copy of his recommendation letter to Justice Kant. The process follows the Union government’s October 23 communication asking Gavai to appoint his successor in line with the long-standing judicial convention.
Notably, if appointed, Justice Kant will be the first person from Haryana to occupy the top judicial office.
What did CJI Gavai say about his successor?
In his remarks to Hindustan Times, CJI Gavai expressed deep confidence in Justice Kant’s ability to conduct the judiciary fairly and with foresight.
“Justice Kant is fit and competent in all respects to take the helm,” Gavai said, adding that his successor “will prove to be an asset to the institution as its head.”
Reflecting on their shared life experiences, CJI Gavai told HT, “Just like me, Justice Kant belongs to a class in society that has experienced struggles at every stage of life, which reinforces my belief that he would be best suited to understand the pain and suffering of those who need the judiciary to protect their rights.
