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Context:
Justice Surya Kant is set to assume office as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on 24 November 2025.
- He succeeds CJI B. R. Gavai.
- Tenure: 24 November 2025 – 9 February 2027, one of the longer recent CJI tenures.
Office of the Chief Justice of India (CJI):
- Role: Head of the Indian judiciary; presiding judge of the Supreme Court of India.
- Constitutional Basis:
- Article 124(1): Establishes the Supreme Court (CJI + other judges).
- Article 124(2): Appointment of judges by the President after consultation.
- Article 126: Appointment of an Acting CJI.
- Article 127: Appointment of ad hoc judges.
- Article 128: Retired judges can act as SC judges.
Appointment Procedure:
- Seniority Principle: The senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is conventionally appointed as CJI if found fit.
- Recommendation: Outgoing CJI recommends the next CJI to the Union Law Minister about a month before retirement.
- Executive Processing: Law Minister → Prime Minister → President.
- Presidential Appointment & Oath:
- President issues the warrant of appointment (Article 124(2)).
- CJI takes oath before the President.
- Codified Practice: Memorandum of Procedure (MoP, 1999) emphasizes seniority and fitness.
