List of Chief Justice of India, Appointment Process, Tenure
List of Chief Justice of India is discussed here. Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant became the 53rd CJI on 31st October 2025. He will assume charge on November 24 and will remain CJI for nearly 16 months, till February 9, 2027.
Deeksha Dixit1 Nov, 2025
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Chief Justice of India: The 53rd Chief Justice of India, Justice Surya Kant, was appointed on Thursday, October 30, 2025. He will take over on November 24 and serve as CJI until February 9, 2027, a period of over 16 months. Suryakant, an Indian judge of the Supreme Court of India, was born on February 10, 1962. After CJI B. R. Gavai's retirement on November 23, the second-most senior Supreme Court judge will take over as India's 53rd Chief Justice on November 24. Kant was a Senior Advocate and the Advocate General for Haryana before he was appointed a judge. He also serves as the National Legal Services Authority's ex officio executive chairman.
53rd Chief Justice of India
President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Justice Surya Kant as India's 53rd Chief Justice (CJI) on October 30, 2025. The Union Law Ministry's Department of Justice announced Justice Surya Kant's appointment. He will take over as Chief Justice of India on November 24 and will serve for approximately 16 months, till February 9, 2027. He will serve as India's first Chief Justice from Haryana. He is a first-generation lawyer renowned for his honest views, fair decisions, and focus on constitutional morality. It is expected that during his term, judicial accessibility, administrative reforms, and uniform constitutional interpretation would be the main priorities.
Chief Justice of India List (1950-2025)
Since the establishment of the Supreme Court in 1950, India has had a distinguished line of 53 Chief Justices who have contributed to shaping the country's judicial landscape. Here is the complete list of Chief Justice of India from 1950 to 2025:| List of Chief Justice of India | ||||
| S No. | Name | Date of Appointment | Date of Retirement | Term |
| 1 | Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania | 26/01/1950 | 06/11/1951 | 1 year 9 months 11 days |
| 2 | Justice M. Patanjali Sastri | 07/11/1951 | 03/01/1954 | 2 years 1 month 27 days |
| 3 | Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan | 04/01/1954 | 22/12/1954 | 11 months 18 days |
| 4 | Justice Bijan Kumar Mukherjea | 23/12/1954 | 31/01/1956 | 1 year 1 month 8 days |
| 5 | Justice Sudhi Ranjan Das | 01/02/1956 | 30/09/1959 | 3 years 7 months 29 days |
| 6 | Justice Bhuvneshwar Prasad Sinha | 01/10/1959 | 31/01/1964 | 4 years 3 months |
| 7 | Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar | 01/02/1964 | 15/03/1966 | 2 years 1 month 14 days |
| 8 | Justice A.K. Sarkar | 16/03/1966 | 29/06/1966 | 3 months 13 days |
| 9 | Justice K. Subba Rao | 30/06/1966 | 11/04/1967 | 9 months 12 days |
| 10 | Justice K.N. Wanchoo | 12/04/1967 | 24/02/1968 | 10 months 12 days |
| 11 | Justice M. Hidayatullah | 25/02/1968 | 16/12/1970 | 2 years 9 months 21 days |
| 12 | Justice J.C. Shah | 17/12/1970 | 21/01/1971 | 1 month 4 days |
| 13 | Justice S.M. Sikri | 22/01/1971 | 25/04/1973 | 2 years 3 months 3 days |
| 14 | Justice A.N. Ray | 26/04/1973 | 28/01/1977 | 3 years 9 months 2 days |
| 15 | Justice M. Hameedullah Beg | 29/01/1977 | 21/02/1978 | 1 year 23 days |
| 16 | Justice Y.V. Chandrachud | 22/02/1978 | 11/07/1985 | 7 years 4 months 19 days |
| 17 | Justice P.N. Bhagwati | 12/07/1985 | 20/12/1986 | 1 year 5 months 8 days |
| 18 | Justice R.S. Pathak | 21/12/1986 | 18/06/1989 | 2 years 5 months 28 days |
| 19 | Justice E.S. Venkataramiah | 19/06/1989 | 17/12/1989 | 6 months 29 days |
| 20 | Justice Sabyasachi Mukherjee | 18/12/1989 | 25/09/1990 | 9 months 7 days |
| 21 | Justice Ranganath Misra | 25/09/1990 | 24/11/1991 | 1 year 2 months |
| 22 | Justice K.N. Singh | 25/11/1991 | 12/12/1991 | 17 days |
| 23 | Justice M.H. Kania | 13/12/1991 | 17/11/1992 | 11 months 4 days |
| 24 | Justice L.M. Sharma | 18/11/1992 | 11/02/1993 | 2 months 24 days |
| 25 | Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah | 12/02/1993 | 24/10/1994 | 1 year 8 months 12 days |
| 26 | Justice A.M. Ahmadi | 25/10/1994 | 24/03/1997 | 2 years 5 months |
| 27 | Justice J.S. Verma | 25/03/1997 | 17/01/1998 | 9 months 23 days |
| 28 | Justice M.M. Punchhi | 18/01/1998 | 09/10/1998 | 8 months 22 days |
| 29 | Dr. Justice A.S. Anand | 10/10/1998 | 31/10/2001 | 3 years 21 days |
| 30 | Justice S.P. Bharucha | 01/11/2001 | 05/05/2002 | 6 months 4 days |
| 31 | Justice B.N. Kirpal | 06/05/2002 | 07/11/2002 | 6 months 1 day |
| 32 | Justice G.B. Pattanaik | 08/11/2002 | 18/12/2002 | 1 month 10 days |
| 33 | Justice V.N. Khare | 19/12/2002 | 01/05/2004 | 1 year 4 months 13 days |
| 34 | Justice S. Rajendra Babu | 02/05/2004 | 31/05/2004 | 29 days |
| 35 | Justice R.C. Lahoti | 01/06/2004 | 31/10/2005 | 1 year 5 months |
| 36 | Justice Y.K. Sabharwal | 01/11/2005 | 13/01/2007 | 1 year 2 months 13 days |
| 37 | Justice K.G. Balakrishnan | 14/01/2007 | 12/05/2010 | 3 years 3 months |
| 38 | Justice S.H. Kapadia | 12/05/2010 | 28/09/2012 | 2 years 4 months 16 days |
| 39 | Justice Altamas Kabir | 29/09/2012 | 18/07/2013 | 9 months 19 days |
| 40 | Justice P. Sathasivam | 19/07/2013 | 26/04/2014 | 9 months 7 days |
| 41 | Justice R. M. Lodha | 27/04/2014 | 27/09/2014 | 5 months |
| 42 | Justice H.L. Dattu | 28/09/2014 | 02/12/2015 | 1 year 2 months 5 days |
| 43 | Justice Justice T. S. Thakur | 03/12/2015 | 03/01/2017 | 1 year 1 month |
| 44 | Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar | 04/01/2017 | 27/08/2017 | 7 months 23 days |
| 45 | Justice Dipak Misra | 28/08/2017 | 02/10/2018 | 1 year 1 month 5 days |
| 46 | Justice Ranjan Gogoi | 03/10/2018 | 17/11/2019 | 1 year 1 month 14 days |
| 47 | Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde | 18/11/2019 | 23/04/2021 | 1 year 5 months 5 days |
| 48 | Justice Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana | 24/04/2021 | 26/08/2022 | 1 year 4 months 2 days |
| 49 | Justice UU Lalit | 27/08/2022 | 08/11/2022 | 2 months 12 days |
| 50 | Justice DY Chandrachud | 09/11/2022 | 10/11/2024 | 2 years 1 day |
| 51 | Justice Sanjiv Khanna | 11/11/2024 | 13/05/2025 | 6 months 2 days |
| 52 | Justice B.R. Gavai | 14/05/2025 | 23/11/2025 | 6 months and 10 days |
| 53 | Justice Surya Kant | 24/11/2025 | 09/02/2027 | 1 Year 2 months |
Chief Justice of India Appointment Procedure
The process for appointing the Chief Justice of India is guided by Article 124(2) of the Constitution, which ensures that the appointment is made with careful consideration of judicial expertise and seniority.- Seniority-Based Selection: Traditionally, the Chief Justice of India is appointed from among the senior-most judges of the Supreme Court. Seniority is determined by the date of appointment to the Supreme Court.
- Role of the Outgoing CJI: The Union Minister of Law and Justice seeks the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice for the appointment of the next CJI.
- Role of the Collegium: If there is any doubt about the fitness of the seniormost judge for the position, Article 124(2) mandates consultation with other senior judges of the Supreme Court.
- Appointment by President: Upon receiving the recommendation from the Chief Justice, the Union Minister of Law and Justice submits it to the Prime Minister, who then advises the President of India on the appointment.
Term and Oath of Chief Justice of India
The tenure and oath of the Chief Justice of India are common questions among aspirants:What is the Tenure of CJI?
The CJI serves until reaching the retirement age of 65, without a fixed term. This means the tenure of the CJI lasts from their appointment to the Supreme Court until their retirement age. For example, the current Chief Justice, Sanjiv Khanna, will retire on May 13, 2025, after serving for a short period of about six months.Who Gives Oath to the Chief Justice of India?
The oath of CJI is administered by the President of India as mentioned in Article 124 of the Indian Constitution: “Every person appointed to be a Judge of the Supreme Court shall, before he enters upon his office, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule.” The oath states their allegiance to the Constitution, their commitment to justice, and a promise to work without fear or favoritism, marking the beginning of their term in office.Role & Responsibilities of Chief Justice of India
The Chief Justice of India holds a crucial role in shaping India's legal system:- Judicial Leadership: As the head of the judiciary, the Chief Justice of India plays a central role in decision-making in constitutional and significant cases.
- Administrative Duties: The CJI manages the Supreme Court’s administration, including the allotment of cases, setting up constitutional benches, and overseeing judicial appointments.
- Appointment of Judges: The Chief Justice of India plays a key role in the appointment of other judges to the Supreme Court and High Courts. They recommend judges based on seniority and merit.
- Ensuring Judicial Independence: This means ensuring that the courts are free from interference by the government or any other outside forces so that judges can make decisions based solely on the law.
- Advising the President: The CJI also has an advisory role in matters like the appointment of judges to higher courts or decisions on the dissolution of the Parliament. They may be consulted by the President of India on important legal matters.
- Guardian of the Constitution: As the head of the judiciary, the CJI is responsible for upholding and protecting the Constitution of India. They ensure that laws passed by the government do not violate the Constitution
Interesting Facts About Chief Justice of India
Here are some interesting facts about the previous Chief Justice of India:Who is the First Chief Justice of India
Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania took office as the first Chief Justice of India in 1950. His term marked the transition of India’s judiciary into an independent system post-independence. Kania’s tenure laid the foundation for the functioning of the Supreme Court, guiding it through the initial stages of India’s constitutional democracy.Longest Serving Chief Justice of India
Justice Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud holds the record as the longest-serving Chief Justice of India, with a term from 1978 to 1985. Chandrachud was known for his firm stance on judicial independence and his role in significant judgments that have continued to shape the judiciary.Shortest Serving Chief Justice of India
Justice Kamal Narain Singh served as the CJI for only 17 days in November 1991, making his term the shortest. Despite his brief term, Singh is remembered for his contributions to the judiciary before and after his tenure as the CJI.| UPSC Related Articles | ||
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Chief Justice of India FAQs
Who is the current Chief Justice of India?
Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant is the current Chief Justice of India5. He will assume charge on November 24 and will remain CJI for nearly 16 months, till February 9, 2027.
Who appoints the Chief Justice of India?
The Chief Justice of India is appointed by the President of India, based on the recommendation of the outgoing CJI and other senior judges.
Who was the first woman Chief Justice of India?
India is yet to get the first woman Chief Justice of India. The first chief justice of any high court is Leila Seth.
Who is the 52nd Chief Justice of India?
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is the 52nd Chief Justice of India.
When did Justice B.R. Gavai take the oath of office?
Justice B.R. Gavai will took the oath of office on 14 May 2025.
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