With this, the way has been paved for him to become the next CJI. He will be the first person from Haryana to become the Chief Justice of the country. Justice Surya Kant made such comments in the cases of BJP leader Nupur Sharma to Muhammad Zubair, which were debated across the country.
Justice Surya Kant will be the next CJI
Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai on Monday (27 October 2025) recommended the Central Government to appoint Justice Surya Kant as the next CJI. Justice Surya Kant is the senior most justice of the Supreme Court. With this, the process of appointing the successor of CJI Gavai has started.
CJI Gavai is retiring on 23 November 2025. The swearing-in ceremony of Justice Surya Kant will take place on 24 November 2025. He will be the 53rd Chief Justice of India. His tenure will be for 14 months. He will retire from his post on 9 February 2027.
According to Hindustan Times report, Chief Justice Gavai described Justice Surya Kant as ‘suitable and competent in every respect to take over the charge’. He said his successor ‘will prove to be an asset as the head of the institution.’ He has a deep grasp on the nuances of law.
Justice Surya Kant has given many historic judgments in his career so far. Many times he made such comments which sparked debate across the country.
Justice Surya Kant’s comment in Nupur Sharma case
Justice Surya Kant, who was hearing the case of former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma, had said, “She alone is responsible for whatever is happening in the country.” In fact, Kanhaiyalal, who had posted on social media in support of Nupur Sharma’s statement, was murdered by Islamic fundamentalists in Rajasthan. During the hearing, Justice Surya Kant had held Nupur Sharma responsible for the murder committed by Jihadis.
Justice Surya Kant, who advocated freedom of speech, had also reprimanded Nupur Sharma for apologizing for her statement and taking part in the debate. Nupur Sharma had expressed her views about Prophet Muhammad in a TV debate. But Mohammad Zubair of Alt News shared half of her video and Islamic fundamentalists considered it an insult to Prophet Mohammad and were bent on killing Nupur Sharma.
He received threats not only from the fundamentalists of the country but also from other Islamic countries. The controversy escalated so much that even those who supported Nupur Sharma were threatened and people like Kanhaiya Lal were even killed.
There was a demand for impeachment against Justice Surya Kant
There was a demand for impeachment of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Pastorwala on social media against their comments in Nupur Sharma case. A vigorous signature campaign was launched for this. Within a few hours, about 10 thousand people had signed it on the www.change.org platform. Addressing the MPs within it, it was said, “All MPs, this is the beginning for the impeachment against Justice Surya Kant and Justice JB Pardiwala.” However, impeachment could not be carried out.
Strongly reprimanded in Swati Maliwal case
Swati Maliwal, former Rajya Sabha MP of Aam Aadmi Party, had made shocking remarks regarding the attack on the house of then CM Arvind Kejriwal. He had said, “Is it the Chief Minister’s residence or a goon’s den?” Turning towards accused Vibhav Kumar, he asked, “Aren’t you ashamed of behaving like this with a woman? Even when a woman was crying and telling her physical condition, the accused neither stopped nor was stopped – this is condemnable.” Actually, Swati Maliwal was beaten by Vibhav Kumar, close to Kejriwal, at the CM residence. Its video was also revealed. This issue made headlines in the newspapers.
Verdict in Mohammad Zubair case
In 2022, in the case of Mohammad Zubair, who took the contract of ‘Fact Check’ and distributed knowledge to others across the world, Justice Surya Kant had said, “It is unconstitutional to stop a citizen from expressing his opinion. Stopping him from expressing his views on social media would be a violation of freedom of expression”. Mohammad Zubair had spewed venom against Hindus. There are allegations of foreign funding against him. In many states, cases were registered against him for inciting religious sentiments.
Ranveer Allahbadia reprimanded on the issue of ‘obscenity’
Justice Surya Kant, while hearing the petition of YouTuber Ranveer Allahbadia, who had made lewd comments in YouTuber Samay Raina’s show ‘India’s Got Talent’, had reprimanded him fiercely. He said, “There is something dirty in the mind of this person which has spread in the society. He is also insulting the parents. Why should the court take his side?” He had clearly said that no one has the right to break social norms for cheap popularity. This case sparked a new debate across the country on social media and freedom of expression.
Justice Surya Kant will be the first CJI of Haryana
Justice Surya Kant, born on 10 February 1962 in Hisar, Haryana, started his education here. He also graduated from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar in 1981. In 1984, he did Bachelor of Law from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak. After this started practice in the district court. In 1985, he went to Chandigarh to practice in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Became Chief Justice of Himachal High Court
In the year 2000, Justice Surya Kant was appointed the youngest Advocate General of Haryana. After becoming a senior advocate in 2001, he was appointed as a judge of Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2004. Member of the Governing Body of the National Legal Services Authority in 2007 and 2011. In 2018, he became the Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court. In 2019, Justice Surya Kant came to the Supreme Court and took charge as a Justice.