Surya Kant | |
|---|---|
| 53rd Chief Justice of India | |
| In office 24 November 2025 – Incumbent | |
| Appointed by | Droupadi Murmu |
| Preceded by | B. R. Gavai |
| Judge of the Supreme Court of India | |
| In office 24 May 2019 – 24 November 2025 | |
| Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court | |
| In office 5 October 2018 – 24 May 2019 | |
| Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court | |
| In office 9 January 2004 – 5 October 2018 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 10 February 1962 Petwar, Hisar, Haryana, India |
| Education | Maharshi Dayanand University (LL.B.) Kurukshetra University (LL.M.) |
| Occupation | Judge |
Surya Kant (born 10 February 1962) is an Indian jurist who has served as the 53rd Chief Justice of India since 24 November 2025.[1][2] He was previously a judge of the Supreme Court of India from May 2019 and served as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court from October 2018 to May 2019.[1] His tenure as Chief Justice has been marked by a series of high-profile oral observations and controversies, most notably a remark comparing certain individuals to "cockroaches," which sparked a nationwide youth protest movement.[3][4]
Early life and education
Surya Kant was born on 10 February 1962 in Petwar, a village in the Hisar district of Haryana, into a middle-class family.[1][5] His father was a Sanskrit teacher.[6] He graduated from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, in 1981 and earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984.[1] He later obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from Kurukshetra University in 2011, standing first in his class.[1][5]
Legal career
Kant began practising law at the District Court in Hisar in 1984 and moved to the Punjab and Haryana High Court in Chandigarh in 1985, specialising in constitutional, service, and civil matters.[1] He was appointed the youngest Advocate General of Haryana on 7 July 2000 and was designated a Senior Advocate in March 2001.[1][6] He served as Advocate General until his elevation as a permanent judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 9 January 2004.[1]
He assumed charge as the Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court on 5 October 2018 and was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court of India on 24 May 2019.[1][2] He was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India on 24 November 2025 by President Droupadi Murmu, succeeding Justice B. R. Gavai.[5][7] His tenure is set to last until 9 February 2027.[1][7]
Tenure as Chief Justice of India
Judicial philosophy and priorities
Upon taking office, Kant outlined priorities including reducing case backlogs, expanding legal aid, and promoting what he termed "Swadeshi jurisprudence"—an emphasis on relying on Indian legal principles and judgments rather than foreign precedents.[6] He has spoken about the need for alternative dispute resolution and the use of technology in courts.[6] In a notable hearing, he remarked that "there is nothing like a fundamental right on a platter," emphasising that citizens must perform their duties to safeguard their rights.[5]
Major judgments and cases
During his time on the Supreme Court, Justice Kant has been part of benches that delivered several significant verdicts. He was on the bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370, removing the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.[6] He also sat on the bench that directed a stay on new sedition FIRs until the government completed its reconsideration of the law.[6] In the Bihar electoral rolls case, he directed the Election Commission of India to disclose details of 65 lakh voters struck off from the draft rolls during a Special Intensive Revision (SIR).[6] He upheld the constitutionality of the One Rank One Pension (OROP) scheme and was part of the bench that appointed a panel to probe the 2022 security lapse during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Punjab.[6] On a seven-judge bench, he helped overturn the 1967 S. Azeez Basha ruling, paving the way for a fresh examination of the minority status of Aligarh Muslim University.[6] He also led a bench that refused to stay the purported deportation of Rohingya Muslims while ruling that there must be no discrimination against Rohingya children in school admissions.[6]
Controversies
The tenure of Chief Justice Kant has been characterised by a series of public controversies, often stemming from his oral observations during court proceedings and their subsequent circulation on social media.[3][6]
The "Cockroach" remark
On 15 May 2026, while hearing a case concerning lawyers with allegedly fraudulent or unrecognised law degrees, Chief Justice Kant orally observed: "There are youngsters like cockroaches they don't get any employment… they become RTI activist some become another activist and they start attacking everyone."[3][8] The remark triggered widespread backlash, particularly among young people and student protesters.[3][4] The controversy directly inspired the creation of the satirical online movement Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which evolved into a significant nationwide protest movement.[4][8][9]
In August 2026, Chief Justice Kant clarified that his remarks had been "misquoted" and misused with "malicious intent" to mislead the youth of the country.[4][8] He stated that the observation was directed at people entering the legal profession with fake or bogus qualifications, not unemployed youth or law students generally.[3] He also expressed concern over the circulation of clips of court proceedings on social media without adequate context and called for responsible reporting of judicial proceedings.[4] The Supreme Court subsequently issued an order barring the unauthorised dissemination, reposting, and monetisation of audio and video recordings of judicial proceedings on social media.[4]
NALSAR convocation controversy
In July 2026, a controversy erupted when around 450 students of the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR) in Hyderabad objected to the university's proposal to invite Chief Justice Kant as the chief guest for their 2026 convocation.[10][11] The students cited the Chief Justice's alleged refusal to urgently hear a plea concerning police action against protesters during the CJP-led Jantar Mantar protests.[10]
The Bar Council of India (BCI) intervened by directing that the university's 2026 graduating batch not be enrolled with State Bar Councils, effectively threatening to prevent them from entering legal practice.[3][10] The move triggered a wider backlash and was subsequently withdrawn.[3] When the issue reached the Supreme Court, Chief Justice Kant sharply questioned the BCI's intervention, stating that the matter was essentially a dialogue between the students and him.[3] He affirmed that students had a right to express their views and protest, even if their views were wrong, and directed that no punitive action be taken against the students.[3][12] He later clarified that he had never consented to the NALSAR invitation.[3]
"Don't have time to watch videos" row
In July 2026, during the CJP-led protests at Jantar Mantar, a lawyer sought urgent intervention by the Supreme Court over alleged police excesses against student protesters and referred to videos of the alleged crackdown.[3] The bench led by Chief Justice Kant declined to urgently take up the request, with the CJI stating: "We are not interested in videos; we don't have time to watch. Don't waste our time, and don't waste your time."[3] The remark drew widespread criticism. Chief Justice Kant subsequently clarified that no formal petition had been filed and that the Supreme Court remained open to properly filed matters, emphasising that the court could not violate its process by acting on a mere letter.[3]
NCERT textbook case
In February 2026, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Kant, took suo motu cognisance of a newly published NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond.[3][13] The controversy centred on a chapter titled "The Role of the Judiciary in our Society," which included a section explicitly titled "Corruption in the Judiciary."[3] The court objected strongly to the inclusion of the material, describing it as "reckless, irresponsible, contemptuous, and motivated" and questioning whether there was a deliberate attempt to undermine the institution.[3][14] The court ordered a ban on the dissemination of the textbook, and NCERT subsequently removed the references to corruption in the judiciary.[3] The Supreme Court later directed that the individuals involved in drafting the chapter be disassociated from any curriculum-related work funded by public money.[13] The case was eventually closed in September 2026.[15]
Other controversies
A 2019 report in The Caravan alleged that there were numerous allegations against Kant dating back years, including accusations of involvement in illegal property dealings and accepting bribes to grant bail.[6] The report noted that retired Justice A.K. Goyal had dissented against Kant's appointment as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, writing that he was "not suitable" until a thorough enquiry was conducted.[6] No formal inquiry has been initiated against Justice Kant regarding these allegations.[6] In October 2026, Chief Justice Kant's refusal to meet Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised questions over judicial accountability.[16]
Public image
Chief Justice Surya Kant is described as a pragmatic jurist with a deep understanding of India's legal ecosystem, stemming from his career spanning trial courts, high courts, and the Supreme Court.[6] However, his tenure has been marked by intense public scrutiny and debate over his oral remarks and the judiciary's approach to dissent and criticism.[3] The "cockroach" remark in particular transformed him into a polarising figure and served as the catalyst for a youth-led political movement that challenged the government on issues of education, unemployment, and electoral integrity.[4][9]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 "Chief Justice & Judges". Supreme Court of India. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Justice Surya Kant". e-Committee, Supreme Court of India. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13 3.14 3.15 3.16 3.17 "NALSAR Row, 'Cockroach' Remark, NCERT Case: Tracking CJI Surya Kant's Brush With Controversies". News18. 2026-08-17. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 "'My Remarks Misused With Malicious Intent': Chief Justice On 'Cockroach' Row". NDTV. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 "Who is Justice Surya Kant, the 53rd Chief Justice of India? A look at his journey from classroom to courtroom". The Times of India. 2025-11-24. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 "Justice Surya Kant: 53rd Chief Justice Of India; Courter of Controversy". Outlook India. 2025-11-24. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 "Justice Surya Kant sworn in as 53rd Chief Justice of India". Deccan Herald. 2025-11-24. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 "Cockroach row: CJI Kant says remarks 'misquoted', used with 'malicious intent' to mislead country's youth". The New Indian Express. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "India 'cockroach' leaders who called on election chief to quit are freed from jail". BBC News. 2026-10-21. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 "Why 450 Hyderabad NALSAR Law University Students Don't Want CJI Surya Kant As Chief Guest For Their Convocation". News18. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ "CJI Surya Kant: Why Indian law students don't want top judge at their graduation ceremony". BBC News. 2026-08-18. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ "'Uncalled for': CJI pulls up Bar Council of India over threat of action against NALSAR students". The Times of India. 2026-08-14. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 ""Judiciary" chapter row: NCERT authors blacklisted by SC". Supreme Court Observer. 2026-03-11. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ "In Focus Podcast | Was the SC's move to 'ban' the NCERT textbook an instance of judicial censorship?". The Hindu. 2026-03-09. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ "Supreme Court closes suo motu case over NCERT chapter on "corruption in judiciary"". Bar and Bench. 2026-09-01. Retrieved 2026-10-27.
- ↑ "Why the CJI's refusal to meet Rahul Gandhi matters". National Herald. 2026-10-17. Retrieved 2026-10-27.