Distinguished Visit by the Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Surya Kant

When: Friday, June 5, 2026, 2:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Where: Lecture Theatre, Centre for Commercial Law Studies (CCLS), 67-69 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London WC2A 3JB & Online

Queen Mary University of London was honoured to have hosted the Honourable Chief Justice of India Surya Kant

2:30 pm to 3:00 pm | Arrival and registration

Guests arrived at the venue and completed registration. This period also allowed time for invited guests, members of the University, students, and external attendees to be seated before the formal commencement of the programme.

3:00 pm to 3:10pm | Formal welcome and opening of proceedings

The event formally commenced with a welcome from Queen Mary University of London. The Chair passed to Reena Singh to introduce the purpose of the engagement, acknowledge the significance of the visit, and provide a brief overview of the programme.

3.10pm to 3:15 pm | Introduction of the Honourable Chief Justice

A short introduction will be given, outlining the constitutional significance of the office of the Chief Justice of India and the importance of the Honourable Chief Justice’s visit to Queen Mary University of London.

3:15pm to 3:30 pm | Keynote address by the Honourable Chief Justice of India

The Honourable Chief Justice was invited to deliver a keynote address. The precise theme was finalised in accordance with the preference of the Honourable Chief Justice’s office. The address covered matters relating to law, constitutional governance, justice, public service, judicial leadership, and other subjects the Honourable Chief Justice wished to speak on.

3:30 pm to 3:45 pm | Moderated academic discussion

Following the keynote address, there was a moderated academic discussion with the Honourable Chief Justice. This segment provided an opportunity for a more focused conversation on themes arising from the keynote, including the role of the judiciary, constitutional values and the wider relationship between law and society and significance for legal education and future professional life of law graduates.

3:45 pm to 3:55 pm | Student question and answer session

There was a structured student Q&A session, which allowed selected students to ask questions. The questions were moderated to ensure that the session remained respectful, relevant, and aligned with the nature of the occasion.

3.55 pm to 4.00 pm | Address to Indian Students at QM and thank you to Chief Justice of India

Cllr Ranjeet Singh Rathore or a representative of the High Commission addressed QM Indian students in the UK and thanked the Chief Justice.

4.00 pm to 4:05 pm | Closing remarks

A senior representative of Queen Mary University of London offered closing remarks, thanking the Honourable Chief Justice for his address and engagement with the University community, and acknowledged the wider significance of the visit.

4:05 pm to 4:30 pm | Networking and informal interaction

The formal proceedings concluded with a short networking period and informal interaction with students, academics, and invited guests, subject to the convenience and schedule of the Honourable Chief Justice.

 

Hon’ble Chief Justice of India Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India

Hon’ble Chief Justice Surya Kant is the Chief Justice of India and the head of the Indian judiciary. He was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India in 2019 and was sworn in as Chief Justice of India on 24 November 2025. Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, he served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and as a Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. His legal career has included extensive work in constitutional, service and civil matters.

Reena Singh

Advocate, Supreme Court of India

Reena Singh is an Advocate practising before the Supreme Court of India and has experience in arbitration and legal practice in India. She has played a key role in facilitating the Honourable Chief Justice of India’s visit to Queen Mary University of London and has connections with both the Indian legal community and the wider UK arbitration setting.

Cllr Ranjeet Singh Rathore

Councillor and General Secretary, Indian National Student Association

Cllr Ranjeet Singh Rathore is a recently elected Councillor and General Secretary of the Indian National Student Association. He is also a former President of Brunel Students’ Union and has been involved in student affairs, public engagement and community leadership in the UK. He has helped facilitate several high-profile visits involving senior Indian public figures.