Justice B.R. Gavai’s appointment as the 52nd Chief Justice of India
Justice BR Gavai sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14, 2025, at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office. He succeeded Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retired on May 13, 2025, and Justice Gavai’s tenure as CJI will last until November 23, 2025, approximately six months.
Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985 and was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003, becoming a permanent judge in 2005. He was appointed to the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019.
Justice Gavai is notable for being the first practicing Buddhist and only the second Dalit to serve as Chief Justice of India, following Justice K.G. Balakrishnan. He comes from a strong Ambedkarite legacy, inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and his father, R.S. Gavai, a politician who embraced Buddhism along with Ambedkar in 1956.
During his tenure as a Supreme Court judge, Justice Gavai was part of several Constitution benches that delivered landmark rulings on key constitutional issues, including the abrogation of Article 370, electoral bonds, demonetization, and rulings against executive “bulldozer justice”. His appointment also marks the presence of a Scheduled Caste judge in the Supreme Court bench after about a decade.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by prominent dignitaries such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, among others.
Justice B.R. Gavai’s appointment as the 52nd Chief Justice of India is historic for his Buddhist faith, Dalit background, and his record of significant constitutional judgments, with a tenure lasting until November 23, 2025.
