The first lawyer: How CJI Surya Kant broke family tradition to chart his own course

Belonging to a family of teachers from Petwar village in Hisar district, it was a completely different career path for Justice Surya Kant—now appointed as the Chief Justice of India—when he decided to pursue legal studies after graduating from Government College, Hisar.

“There was no advocate or judge in our entire family, or even among our relatives. In fact, Surya Kant was the first to gain admission to the LLB course when he joined Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak,” informed his elder brother, Rishi Kant, a retired teacher.

Talking to The Tribune, Rishi Kant said it was solely his brother’s decision to pursue law after graduation.

“Our father gave complete freedom to all of us to choose our careers. When he opted for LLB, it was considered as good a choice as any other. Though our grandfather, father, and two of the four brothers have been teachers, he decided to chart his own path,” he said.

He added that all of them studied at the government school in their native Petwar village before moving to Hisar for higher studies.

“Surya Kant had a keen interest in law, and that’s why he chose this career. His remarkable progress in this field shows that he not only excelled but also made a perfect decision regarding his career,” he said.

Less than a year after starting his law practice in 1985 at the Hisar district court, Surya Kant shifted to Chandigarh to practice in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. He was later appointed as the Advocate General of Haryana.

With his elevation to the top post in the country’s judiciary, the family and the entire village are on cloud nine. The ancestral residence, where the brothers’ families live, is being refurbished, with workers busy painting and decorating the house. “It is one of the happiest moments for our family and for the entire village. It will be a second Diwali when Surya Kant takes the oath as the CJI. We are all set to celebrate the occasion,” said Rishi Kant.

The family members are also eager to witness the oath-taking ceremony, which is likely to take place next month. “The family will definitely attend the ceremony, though it is yet to be decided who will go to Delhi for the function,” he said.

Justice Surya Kant has remained closely associated with his native village. He visits the village on special occasions and honors meritorious students of Classes 10 and 12 every year. He last visited Petwar on October 19, a day before Diwali, to exchange greetings with his family and other villagers.

According to a PIB press release, the President has appointed Justice Surya Kant, Judge of the Supreme Court, as the Chief Justice of India with effect from November 24, 2025.

BJP’s Safidon MLA, Ram Kumar Gautam, who also hails from Hisar district, said it was a proud moment for the entire Haryana that Justice Surya Kant will occupy the highest office of the judiciary. “This is a remarkable achievement for him, as there has been no other member of his family in the judiciary or legal profession,” he added.