India, Oct. 24 -- The Union government has begun the official process to appoint the next Chief Justice of India (CJI), as the incumbent Justice BR Gavai's term is set to end on November 23. Justice Surya Kant, currently the senior-most judge after Gavai, is likely to be named the next CJI.

Beginning the formal process, the law ministry has written to CJI Gavai, requesting him to recommend his successor. As per the rules, the Chief Justice recommends his successor about a month before the end of their tenure.

Notably, the appointment of the Chief Justice follows the Memorandum of Procedure (MoP), which sets out how judges are appointed, transferred, or promoted in the Supreme Court and high courts. The document says that the senior-most...