Hisar celebrates as Justice Surya Kant becomes CJI

Celebrations broke out across Hisar today as Justice Surya Kant was sworn in as the 53rd Chief Justice of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In his native Petwar village, members of the judiciary, advocates and residents marked the moment with enthusiasm, calling it a historic day for Haryana.

Justice Surya Kant, an alumnus of Government College, Hisar, and Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak, began his legal career with the Hisar Bar Association in 1984-85. He is the first judge from Haryana to rise to the top of the country’s judicial hierarchy, a fact that drew pride and celebrations in Hisar, Rohtak and Bhiwani courts.

Family members — including his brothers, several relatives, and advocates from the Hisar District Bar Association — attended the oath-taking ceremony in Delhi, while others watched the event live in Hisar.

A havan was organised at the Hisar court complex, where advocates and judicial officers gathered to watch the proceedings. Celebrations included beating of dhols and dancing as members of the legal fraternity expressed joy over the elevation.

Justice Surya Kant hails from a highly respected family in the region. His father Madan Gopal, a Sanskrit teacher and acclaimed writer, authored a Haryanvi version of the Ramayana and wrote 14 books, earning honours such as the Sur Samman and the Pandit Lakhmi Chand Award. With three generations serving as teachers, Justice Surya Kant is the first in the family to pursue law.

He completed his schooling in the village government school and later studied at Government College, Hisar, before joining MDU Rohtak for his law degree. He had visited Petwar recently on October 19, ahead of Diwali.