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New Delhi, November 24, 2025: Justice Surya Kant on Monday took oath as the 53rd Chief Justice of India (CJI) at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office, marking the beginning of Justice Surya Kant’s 15-month tenure as the head of the country’s judiciary. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who returned from the G20 Summit in Johannesburg earlier in the morning, was present at the ceremony along with several Union ministers, including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. A New Era Begins in the Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant succeeds Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud’s successor, CJI Uday Umesh Lalit Gavai, who demitted office on turning 65. As per convention, Justice Surya Kant — the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court — was recommended...

New Delhi: India’s outgoing Chief Justice B.R. Gavai on Sunday expressed regret that no woman judge could be recommended to the Supreme Court during his tenure. He clarified that although several women candidates were considered, the collegium could not reach a consensus on any of the names. Responding to a question, Justice Gavai strongly rejected allegations of nepotism within the collegium system, calling such claims “misplaced and incorrect.” “No Pressure From the Executive” Justice Gavai emphasized that he never faced pressure from the executive at any point.He noted that several decisions during his term went against the government, including his very first judgment related to the extension of the ED Director’s tenure. “The government appears as a party before the court,”...