The Union government has formally initiated the process of appointing the next Chief Justice of India (CJI). The law ministry on Friday requested the incumbent, CJI Bhushan R Gavai, to recommend his successor ahead of his retirement on November 23.

This action sets in motion the official procedure for the elevation of Justice Surya Kant, the Supreme Court’s senior-most judge, who is in line to become the 53rd Chief Justice of India.

Justice Kant is expected to assume office on November 24 and will have a tenure of approximately 14 months, retiring on February 9, 2027.

The ministry’s request adheres to the long-standing convention and the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) for judicial appointments. This procedure, which stems from the 1993 Second Judges Case, dictates that the law ministry r

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