Key Points:
- Justice BR Gavai will be sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14, 2025, by President Droupadi Murmu.
- He succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retires on May 13 after a six-month tenure.
- Justice Gavai will serve as CJI for about six months until his retirement in November 2025.
- He becomes only the second Dalit to hold the post, after Justice KG Balakrishnan.
- Justice Gavai has been part of several landmark Supreme Court verdicts, including on Article 370, demonetisation, and electoral bonds.
New Delhi: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai will be sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on May 14, 2025, following the recommendation by outgoing CJI Sanjiv Khanna to the Union Law Ministry. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath at a formal ceremony in New Delhi.
Brief Tenure, Historic Milestone
Justice Gavai will serve as CJI for approximately six months, retiring on November 23, 2025, upon reaching the mandatory retirement age of 65. His appointment is historic, as he will be only the second Dalit to hold the country’s highest judicial position, after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who served from 2007 to 2010.
Early Life and Legal Career
Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985 after enrolling with the Bar. He initially worked under barrister Raja Bhonsale, a former Advocate General and High Court judge, before establishing his own practice at the Bombay High Court, primarily handling constitutional and administrative law matters. He served as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court in 1992 and later became Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor in 2000.
Judicial Journey
Justice Gavai was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003 and became a permanent judge in 2005. After 16 years on the High Court bench, he was elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2019. He has authored over 600 judgments and participated in more than 400 benches, with a significant focus on criminal, service, property, and constitutional law.
Landmark Judgments
Justice Gavai has been part of several Constitution benches that delivered key rulings:
- Article 370: Upheld the Centre’s decision to abrogate Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
- Electoral Bonds: Struck down the electoral bonds scheme for political funding as unconstitutional.
- Demonetisation: Supported the Centre’s 2016 demonetisation move, stating it met the test of proportionality.
- Reservation: Part of the bench that allowed sub-classification among Scheduled Castes for targeted reservations.
- Property Demolition: Led a bench that mandated pan-India guidelines for property demolition, requiring prior notice and a 15-day response period.
- Forests and Wildlife: Currently heads benches on critical environmental matters, including forest and wildlife protection.
Family and Legacy
Justice Gavai comes from a family with a strong public service background. His father, Ramkrishna Suryabhan Gavai, was a prominent political leader, founder of the Republican Party of India (RPI), and served as Governor of multiple states[5]. Justice Gavai’s elevation is seen as a significant step for representation in the judiciary.
What Lies Ahead
Justice Gavai’s tenure, though brief, is expected to be impactful given his experience and the important cases pending before the Supreme Court. His appointment underscores the judiciary’s commitment to diversity and inclusion at the highest level.
“Justice Gavai’s elevation as the second Dalit Chief Justice of India is a momentous occasion for the judiciary and the nation, reflecting the values of representation and merit.”
Justice Gavai’s oath on May 14 will mark the beginning of a new chapter for the Supreme Court, with expectations high for his leadership in the coming months.
