Chief Justices from seven countries Brazil, Bhutan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mauritius, Nepal and Sri Lankaattended the event with their families, making it the first CJI swearing-in to witness such a broad global judicial delegation.
Justice Surya Kant succeeds Justice B.R. Gavai, who demitted office on November 23. Known for his sharp constitutional reasoning and administrative acumen, Justice Surya Kant has contributed to more than 1,000 judgments during his Supreme Court tenure, including several Constitution Bench rulings.
The ceremony also carried an unmistakably personal touch. His elder brother, Devkant, said the family gathered in full strength, including his wife Savita Suryakant a retired college principal and English professor and their daughters Mugdha and Kanupriya. Relatives from Petwar village in Hisar, where he studied until Class 10, reached Delhi a day earlier and stayed at Haryana Bhawan.
Petwar, a village known for producing soldiers, freedom fighters and senior officers, counts Justice Surya Kant as one of its most distinguished residents. Family members recalled his decision to pursue law despite his father’s preference for engineering, and his practice of returning to the village annually to honour school achievers.
On the judicial front, Justice Surya Kant is noted for key interventions, including directing the Election Commission to publicly release details of 65 lakh deleted names during Bihar’s Special Intensive Revision, underscoring his emphasis on transparency in electoral processes.
As he assumes office, the judiciary enters a phase expected to focus on institutional reforms, constitutional adjudication and greater public accountability.
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