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Justice Surya Kant appointed next CJI; to enter office on Nov 24

Justice Surya Kant was on Thursday appointed as the 53rd Chief Justice of India and he will assume charge on November 24. The Department of Justice in the Union Law Ministry issued a notification announcing his appointment. Justice Surya Kant succeeds Justice Bhushan R Gavai, who demits office on November 23. He will be the CJI for nearly 15 months and will demit office on February 9, 2027 on attaining the age of 65 years. "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," Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said in a post on X. "I convey my heartiest congratulations and best wishes to him," he added. Justice Kant, born in a middle-class family on February 10, 1962 in Hissar district of Haryana, became a top court judge on May 24, 2019. He brings to the country's top judicial office a wealth of experience

CJI BR Gavai's tenure ends soon: Meet Justice Surya Kant the next in line | Supreme court

Chief Justice B.R. Gavai has recommended Justice Surya Kant — the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court after him as his successor.

CJI BR Gavai recommends Justice Surya Kant as next Chief Justice of India

Once President Droupadi Murmu formally approves Kant's appointment, he will take over as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on November 24, and serve until February 9, 2027

Govt begins process to appoint new CJI as Justice BR Gavai nears retirement

Traditionally, the outgoing CJI receives the request for recommendation about a month before demitting office upon reaching the age of 65

Courts are custodians of democracy, not just law interpreters: CJI Gavai

Observing that public trust is the judiciary's "most valuable asset", Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Thursday said that courts have an active and indispensable role to play in the system of constitutional governance and in fulfilling the mandate of the Constitution. The CJI noted that perhaps the most enduring role of courts in constitutional governance is to sustain public faith in the rule of law, adding that decisions delivered by courts, even if unpopular, must reflect fairness and moral courage. Justice Gavai, who is presently on a four-day official visit to Bhutan, delivered the keynote address at an event organised by the Jigme Singye Wangchuck (JSW) School of Law at the Royal Institute of Management, Thimphu. Speaking on the theme of "courts and constitutional governance", he touched upon many aspects, including the active role of courts. "I will not burden you with more case examples, but I wish to emphasise a larger point: that the courts of any nation have an active

Govt initiates process to appoint new CJI; Justice Surya Kant next in line

The government on Thursday initiated the process to appoint the next chief justice of India as incumbent B R Gavai demits office on November 23, sources said. The letter asking Justice Gavai to name his successor is set to be delivered either this evening or on Friday, people aware of the procedure to appoint Supreme Court and high court judges told PTI. According to the memorandum of procedure, a set of documents which guide the appointment, transfer and elevation of SC and HC judges states that appointment to the office of the Chief Justice of India should be of the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court considered fit to hold the office. The Union law minister would, "at the appropriate time", seek the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice of India for the appointment of his successor. Conventionally, the letter is sent a month before the incumbent CJI retires on attaining the age of 65 years. Justice Surya Kant is the seniormost judge after the CJI and is next in line to

SC to hear contempt plea on Oct 27 against lawyer who threw shoe at CJI

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear on October 27 a petition seeking contempt action against advocate Rakesh Kishore, who hurled a shoe towards Chief Justice of India B R Gavai during court proceedings earlier this month. According to the cause list of October 27 uploaded on the apex court's website, the plea filed by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) will come up for hearing before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi. On October 6, in a shocking security breach, 71-year-old Kishore hurled a shoe towards the CJI in his courtroom, which prompted the Bar Council of India to suspend his licence with immediate effect. The CJI, who remained unfazed during and after the unprecedented incident, asked the court officials and security personnel present to "just ignore" it and let off the errant lawyer with a warning. The incident sparked widespread condemnation from different sections of the society, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi speaking to the CJI and calling

AG approves contempt proceedings against lawyer who threw shoe at CJI Gavai

Attorney General for India R Venkataramani has approved criminal contempt proceedings against lawyer Rakesh Kishore. The case is listed after Diwali

SCBA terminates membership of lawyer for attempting to hurl shoe at CJI

The Supreme Court Bar Association on Thursday terminated with immediate effect membership of lawyer Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to hurl a shoe towards Chief Justice of India B R Gavai inside the courtroom, after finding him guilty of grave misconduct. In a shocking security breach, Kishore (71) attempted to hurl a shoe towards the CJI and was heard shouting "Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge" (will not tolerate insult to Sanatan Dharma). The Bar Council of India suspended Kumar's bar licence with immediate effect. The SCBA said Kishore's reprehensible, disorderly and intemperate behaviour amounted to a direct assault on judicial independence and a serious breach of professional ethics, decorum and the dignity of the Supreme Court. "The Executive Committee finds that the said conduct amounts to a direct assault on judicial independence, the sanctity of courtroom proceedings, and the longstanding relationship of mutual respect and trust between the Bar and the Bench. "The Executive ..

‘I have no regrets’: Lawyer who attacked CJI Gavai says it was ‘God's will’ | Supreme Court

The lawyer who threw a shoe at the Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, says he has no regrets for his actions.

Bihar elections, man hurls shoe at CJI Gavai, SC on Wangchuk NSA detention, France PM resigns & more

The Election Commission of India announced the dates for the Bihar Assembly elections, which will be conducted in two phases on November 6 and 11, with results on November 14.

George Bush to Manmohan Singh: When shoes were hurled at prominent figures

Following the shoe-throwing attempt at CJI BR Gavai, here's a look at other similar incidents involving public figures

Man hurls shoe at CJI Gavai in Supreme Court over 'ask your deity' remark

A man dressed as a lawyer reportedly went near the dais and attempted to remove his shoe and throw it at the judge

Indian legal system guided by rule of law, not bulldozer rule: CJI Gavai

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai on Friday said the Indian legal system is governed by rule of law and not by "rule of the bulldozer". Delivering the inaugural Sir Maurice Rault Memorial Lecture 2025 in Mauritius on 'Rule of Law in the Largest Democracy', he referred to his own verdict deprecating 'bulldozer justice'. Sir Maurice Rault, a noted jurist, was the Chief Justice of Mauritius from 1978 to 1982. Highlighting the principle of rule of law and its expansive interpretation by the Supreme Court of India, Justice Gavai, who is on a three-day official visit to the island nation, said, "The judgment sent a clear message that the Indian legal system is governed by the rule of law, not by the rule of the bulldozer." In the judgement in the 'bulldozer justice' case, the apex court held that demolition of houses of accused in response to alleged offenses bypasses legal processes, violates the rule of law and infringes upon the fundamental right to shelter under Article 21. "It was .

CJI Gavai's mother says she won't attend RSS centenary program on Oct 5

Kamal Gavai, Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai's mother, on Wednesday said she would not attend a centenary program of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) here on October 5. She decided not to attend the programme as chief guest in view of the controversy the news generated and the accusations and slander she faced, she said in an open letter. Some people invited her to the October 5 programme; and as she harbours good wishes for everyone, she welcomes everyone, Kamal Gavai (84) said. "(But) As soon as the news of the programme was published, many people started criticizing and levelling allegations at not only me but late Dadasaheb Gavai (her husband, former Bihar Governor R S Gavai). We have lived our lives as per (Dr B R) Ambedkar's ideology, while Dadasaheb Gavai dedicated his life to the Ambedkarite movement. Sharing our ideology on the platform of different ideology is also important, which needs courage," she wrote in the letter. Her husband deliberately attended ...

Kovind to attend RSS Vijayadashami event; a look at past chief guests

The Sangh is currently holding its centenary celebrations across the country and as a part of those celebrations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended an event in New Delhi on Wednesday

Conflict, when approached constructively, can be chance for growth: CJI

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai said mediation and open communication offer a path to transform discord into dialogue, turning tension into collaboration and restoring harmony between parties. Addressing the inaugural session of the two-day National Mediation Conference in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, he said the practice of mediation continued in different societies for ages and it got the recognition through the framing of The Mediation Act, 2023. "I would like to say that it is not the mere existence of a quarrel or disagreement that disturbs our peace, but the refusal to listen, empathise, and make a genuine effort to resolve it. Conflict, when approached constructively, can become an opportunity for growth and understanding," he said. Justice Gavai said the Act ensures justice that is participatory, equitable, and accessible, while also helping reduce the ever-growing pendency of cases before courts. Governor Haribabu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, Chief Justice

Administrative tribunals bridge executive, judiciary: CJI BR Gavai

The Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, commented on the functioning of the administrative tribunal in India during the 10th All India Conference of the Central Administrative Tribunal on Saturday.During the conference, Chief Justice BR Gavai discussed the functioning of Indian tribunals, highlighting that administrative tribunals occupy a unique position between the executive and the judiciary. He noted that, in contrast to courts, many members of these tribunals come from an administrative background, while a significant number also have judicial experience."...The administrative tribunals are unlike courts in that they occupy a unique space between the executive and the judiciary. Many of the members come from the administrative services, while others come from the judiciary..." said CJI BR Gavai.However, Gavai emphasised that even though diversity is a strength of tribunals, he notes that members with an administrative background require training in legal reasoning and are generally

SC reserves verdict, asks if it can act when governor withholds assent

Calling itself the custodian of the Constitution, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked if it could sit idle if a constitutional functionary like Governor failed to discharge duties as it reserved the verdict on the presidential reference on grant of assent to bills. In the marathon hearings spanning 10 days, a Constitution bench of headed by Chief Justice B R Gavai heard legal luminaries including Attorney General R Venkataramani, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi, Gopal Subramanium, Arvind Datar and others on the presidential reference which centered around Article 200 and 201 and the key issue whether constitutional court can impose timelines for governors and President to assent to bills. On the last day, the bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant, Vikram Nath, P S Narasimha and A S Chandurkar, interjected Mehta when he referred to the separation of powers as one of the basic structures of the Constitution and said the court shoul

Human dignity is the soul of the Constitution, says CJI BR Gavai

At the 11th Dr L M Singhvi Memorial Lecture, CJI BR Gavai called human dignity the principle uniting all fundamental rights and guiding judicial interpretation in India