Justice Surya Kant Becomes 53rd Chief Justice of India

Justice Surya Kant took oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on November 24, 2025. His tenure will last a little over a year, until February 2, 2027.

• Top priority: Reducing pendency of over 90,000 cases in the Supreme Court.

• Appointment of Chief Justice of India

• CJI and Supreme Court judges are appointed by the President under Article 124(2) of the Constitution.
• Conventionally, the seniormost Supreme Court judge considered fit is appointed as CJI.
• If there is any doubt about the seniormost judge’s fitness, consultation with other judges is conducted.
• Appointment process:
  1. Outgoing CJI gives recommendation for the next CJI.
  2. Union Law Minister forwards recommendation to the Prime Minister.
  3. President makes the formal appointment on the PM’s advice.

• Appointment of Supreme Court judges

• Vacancies: CJI initiates proposal and forwards recommendations to the Union Law Minister.
• Collegium consultation: Opinion formed in consultation with four seniormost puisne judges of the Supreme Court.
• The collegium system evolved through Supreme Court judgments known as “Judges Cases”.

• Collegium System

• Established by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association vs Union of India, 1993 (Second Judges Case).
• A nine-judge Constitution Bench created a specific procedure for appointment and transfer of judges in the higher judiciary.
• Ensures judicial independence in appointments.

Sources: TH