Justice Kant has risen from a modest background in Hisar to one of the most powerful constitutional positions in the country. (Photo: X/ani_digital)
Justice Surya Kant, a senior judge of the Supreme Court, has been recommended by Chief Justice of India Bhushan R Gavai as his successor. If approved by the government, Justice Kant will become the 53rd Chief Justice of India and the first person from Haryana to hold the top judicial office.
Known for his humility, sharp legal acumen, and commitment to social justice, Justice Kant has risen from a modest background in Hisar to one of the most powerful constitutional positions in the country.
Justice Surya Kant was born on 10 February 1962 in the village of Petwar in Hisar district, Haryana, into a modest, middle-class family.
His father was a Sanskrit teacher at the village school, and his family lived in largely rural surroundings with minimal amenities (for example, until Class VIII, he studied in a village school that had no benches).
He completed his graduation from Government Post Graduate College, Hisar, in 1981, and then obtained his LL.B. from Maharishi Dayanand University, Rohtak, in 1984.
Later, he earned an LL.M. (First Class First) from the Directorate of Distance Education, Kurukshetra University in 2011.
Justice Surya Kant is the youngest among five siblings, and his elder brother Rishi Kant is a retired government teacher.
Beyond that, publicly available details about his wife, children (daughter or son), or spouse’s identity are not readily found in reliable public profiles.
According to the Supreme Court Website, Justice Surya Kant has 3 valuable watches but does not have vehicle. According to the website, he also has real estate in Gurugram, Chandigarh, and Hisar, but no vehicles
His caste background is noted in sources as from a Brahmin family.
He began his legal practice in 1984 at the District Court, Hisar, and in 1985 moved to practice at the Punjab & Haryana High Court, Chandigarh, specializing in constitutional, service, and civil matters.
While Justice Kant is a sitting judge and does not hold a political office per se, his public remarks and judgments show some consistent themes:
Because judges must remain impartial, he has avoided publicly aligning with any political party; however, he has strong views on constitutional values, equality, and the rule of law.
Justice Kant has been part of significant benches and given important orders, such as:
In the Supreme Court, he was part of benches dealing with high-profile constitutional matters, including free speech, democracy, and environmental protection.
