The first Chief Justice of India was Sir Harilal Jekisundas Kania. He served as the Chief Justice of India from January 26, 1950, when the Supreme Court of India was established, until his death on November 6, 1951. He was born on November 3, 1890, in Surat, Gujarat, and had a distinguished legal career before becoming the first Chief Justice of independent India's Supreme Court

. Kania had previously served as the Chief Justice of the Federal Court of India just before independence and was appointed as the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after India became a republic. He administered the oath to the first President of India, Rajendra Prasad, and authored several important judgments during his tenure

. Thus, H. J. Kania holds the distinction of being the inaugural Chief Justice of India.