Who Was the First Chief Justice of India?
The first Chief Justice of India was Justice Harilal Jekisundas (H. J.) Kania, who headed the Supreme Court when the Constitution came into force on 26 January 1950.
His tenure may look short on paper ending with his death in office on 6 November 1951, but it came at a turning point when every early decision helped define how the new Constitution would actually work in courts.
In many competitive exams and GK quizzes, this is treated as a must-know fact, almost in the same category as “Who is the President?” or “When was the Constitution adopted?”.
What often gets less attention is how quietly he worked: no dramatic public image, no loud rhetoric, just steady, principle-based judgments and administration at a time when the judiciary was still finding its voice in a young republic. That quiet start is a big reason the Supreme Court could grow into a trusted institution over the decades.
When Was the First Chief Justice of India Appointed?
Justice H. J. Kania was appointed the first Chief Justice of India on 26 January 1950, the very day the Constitution came into force, and the Supreme Court of India formally replaced the Federal Court.
That morning was symbolic: Kania took the oath as Chief Justice and then administered the oath of office to Dr. Rajendra Prasad, the first President of India, marking the start of constitutional governance and a new judicial era in one ceremony.
Before this, he had already served as the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of India from 1948, and even briefly as acting chief earlier, so his appointment followed the convention of seniority and continuity.
His term as Chief Justice of India lasted until his sudden death on 6 November 1951 due to a heart attack, after which Justice M. Patanjali Shastri took over as the second Chief Justice.
Justice H. J. Kania: Early Life and Education
Justice H. J. Kania was born on 3 November 1890 in Surat, in present-day Gujarat, into a middle-class family with strong academic roots. His grandfather worked as a revenue officer, and his father, Jekisundas Kania, was a Sanskrit professor who later became the principal of Samaldas College in Bhavnagar, so learning and discipline were pretty much part of the family atmosphere.
Kania completed his B.A. from Samaldas College in 1910, then earned his LLB and LLM from Government Law College, Bombay, in 1912 and 1913.
From 1915, he practised at the Bombay High Court, gradually building a reputation for being precise, calm, and thoroughly prepared, traits colleagues later said carried straight into his work on the Federal Court and then the Supreme Court.
His legal career included long years as a judge of the Bombay High Court, service on inquiry commissions, and finally elevation to the Federal Court in 1946, which set the stage for his role in independent India.
Interesting Facts About the First Chief Justice of India
Justice Kania’s profile is full of small but telling details that show how the early judiciary evolved in real time, not just on paper. A few points often highlighted in reference material and lectures stand out.
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He authored around 30 judgments and sat on more than 60 benches during his brief Supreme Court tenure, helping set early precedents on constitutional interpretation.
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He came from a family that later produced another Chief Justice of India: his nephew M. H. Kania became the 23rd Chief Justice in 1998, a rare uncle–nephew pair at the very top of the judiciary.
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Despite being entitled by seniority to become Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court earlier, he was initially superseded, a setback that many legal historians mention as an example of colonial-era bias and politics in judicial appointments.
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As Chief Justice, he was central in the first years of interpreting the new Constitution, especially balancing fundamental rights with state power at a time when no one was yet sure how strong the court’s role would become.
These details make Justice H. J. Kania more than just a one-line answer for “Who was the first Chief Justice of India?”; they place him as a foundational figure in the story of how India’s Supreme Court grew into the apex court known today.
Disclaimer
Details about Justice H. J. Kania, his tenure as the first Chief Justice of India, and related dates are drawn from standard history and polity references. For competitive exams or formal research, readers should cross-check key facts with official Supreme Court records, NCERTs, or updated government publications.
