Justice B R Gavai takes oath as 52nd CJI, will have a 6-month tenure
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in today as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) in a solemn ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. The oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu, with Justice Gavai succeeding Justice Sanjiv Khanna at the helm of the nation’s judiciary.
Dignitaries extend congratulations
Following the ceremony, President Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, and members of the Union Cabinet extended their congratulations to the new Chief Justice. Former CJI Sanjiv Khanna was also present to personally wish Justice Gavai success in his new role.
A brief tenure at the helm
Justice Gavai will serve as CJI for a tenure of six months, retiring in November 2025. His legal career spans nearly four decades, having joined the Bar in 1985 and practicing at the Bombay High Court. He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003, becoming a permanent judge in 2005, and was later elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019.
Legacy of landmark judgments
During his tenure at the Supreme Court, Justice Gavai has contributed to several landmark rulings, including:
- Upholding the Centre’s 2016 demonetization decision.
- Declaring the Electoral Bonds scheme unconstitutional.
He has authored around 300 judgments, including numerous Constitution Bench decisions on fundamental rights and constitutional law.
A trailblazer from the Dalit community
Justice Gavai is the second Dalit judge to become Chief Justice of India, following Justice K G Balakrishnan. His father, R S Gavai, was a noted social activist, Governor of three states, and a parliamentarian, who also founded the Republican Party of India (Gavai faction).
Tributes from the legal fraternity
Prominent figures from the legal community lauded Justice Gavai’s elevation:
- Senior advocate and MP Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi described him as “one of the most pragmatic and result-oriented judges,” highlighting his firm grasp of proceedings, pleasant courtroom demeanor, and deep understanding of the law. Singhvi added, “I wish he had a longer tenure.”
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta praised Justice Gavai as “humility personified, brilliant but grounded, intellectually independent and impartial to the core.” He further remarked, “He has carried forward the true legacy of Dr Ambedkar and made immense contributions to Indian jurisprudence across all branches of law.”
Justice Gavai’s appointment marks an important milestone in India’s judicial history, underscoring both legal excellence and social representation at the highest level of the judiciary.
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