01
Career
From the District Court, Hisar to the Chief Justice’s chair.
10 Feb 1962
Born in Hisar district, Haryana
1984
LL.B., Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak
Began practice at the District Court, Hisar. Later took an LL.M. (2011) from Kurukshetra University.
1985
Moved to the Punjab & Haryana High Court
Constitutional, service and civil matters, appearing for universities, boards, corporations and banks.
7 Jul 2000
Advocate General, Haryana
Appointed at 38, the youngest person to hold the post.
Mar 2001
Designated Senior Advocate
9 Jan 2004
Permanent Judge, Punjab & Haryana High Court
5 Oct 2018
Chief Justice, Himachal Pradesh High Court
24 May 2019
Judge, Supreme Court of India
Elevated alongside Justice B.R. Gavai.
24 Nov 2025
53rd Chief Justice of India
The first CJI from Haryana. Sworn in on the recommendation of CJI Gavai.
9 Feb 2027
Retires
On reaching the age of 65.
02
Judgments
Selected rulings across his Supreme Court years, with the role he played in each. Not a complete list.
2021
Pegasus spyware case
Part of the three-judge bench that constituted an independent expert committee to examine surveillance allegations.
Sources: The Quint
2022
Sedition law (S.124A IPC) kept in abeyance
Part of the bench that paused pending proceedings and new FIRs while the Union reviewed the provision.
Sources: The Leaflet
2022
Maharashtra MLAs: disqualification proceedings
A bench headed by Justice Kant put disqualification proceedings against 16 MLAs in abeyance.
Sources: The Leaflet
2023
Article 370 abrogation upheld
Member of the five-judge Constitution Bench that unanimously upheld the 2019 decision.
Sources: The Quint · The Leaflet
2024
Aligarh Muslim University minority status
Seven-judge bench overruled S. Azeez Basha (1967) by 4:3. Justice Kant wrote a separate opinion.
Sources: SCC Online · The Quint
2024
Section 6A, Citizenship Act (Assam Accord)
Authored the majority opinion upholding the provision; also directed a bench to oversee its implementation.
Sources: Supreme Court Observer · The Quint
2024
Shambhu border and the farmers’ protests
Led the bench that constituted a negotiation committee during the blockade.
Sources: The Quint
2024
One-third of bar association seats for women
Direction covering bar associations, including the Supreme Court Bar Association.
Sources: Free Press Journal
2026
Bihar Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
Authored the judgment holding the ECI’s measures neither excessive nor manifestly arbitrary.
Sources: Supreme Court Observer
2026
Definition of “industry” (State of U.P. v Jai Bir Singh)
Nine-judge Constitution Bench. Justice Kant wrote an opinion for four judges proposing to reformulate the Rajappa triple test; the Bench held the test continues to govern pending disputes.
Sources: Supreme Court Observer
2026
Civil Judge (Junior Division) eligibility
Authored the majority opinion reducing the mandatory Bar-practice requirement from three years to one.
Sources: Supreme Court Observer
03
Constitution Benches
Larger benches on which he has sat.
| Bench | Matter | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 judges | In re: Article 370 | 2023 | Member |
| 7 judges | Aligarh Muslim University v Naresh Agarwal | 2024 | Member; separate opinion |
| 5 judges | In re: Section 6A, Citizenship Act, 1955 | 2024 | Authored majority opinion |
| 5 judges | Presidential Reference on powers of the Governor and President | Heard | Member |
| 9 judges | State of U.P. v Jai Bir Singh | 2026 | Authored opinion for four judges |
04
As Chief Justice
Administrative and collegium decisions announced since 24 Nov 2025.
24 Nov 2025
Written mentioning
On his first working day: urgent listings are sought through a written slip to the Registrar; oral mentioning only in extraordinary cases such as personal liberty or the death penalty.
Source: Outlook
Nov–Dec 2025
Constitution Bench backlog
Identified pending seven- and nine-judge matters as a priority and stated an aim to list nine-judge matters from January 2026.
Source: Supreme Court Observer
26 Feb 2026
High Court Chief Justice transfers
Policy that a successor Chief Justice is transferred two months before the incumbent retires, to allow time to settle in.
Source: Supreme Court Observer
First 100 days
Collegium recommendations
Seven meetings; 19 permanent and 5 ad-hoc High Court judges recommended.
Source: Supreme Court Observer
28 Sep 2026
Three High Court Chief Justices recommended
Five-member collegium recommended the three; sworn in on 6 Oct 2026, taking the Court to 37 of 38 judges.
Source: The Tribune
05
Sources
Official: sci.gov.in · eCommittee, Supreme Court. Judgment summaries and reports as linked against each entry. Please check the judgment text before citing. Tenure figures update daily. Roster as of 6 Oct 2026.