Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on May 14, 2025, in a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office, marking a historic moment as Justice Gavai became the first Buddhist and only the second Dalit to hold the nation’s highest judicial position, following Justice K.G. Balakrishnan who served until 2010.
Early Life and Legal Career
Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai hails from a family deeply rooted in social activism. His father, R.S. Gavai, was a prominent leader of the Republican Party of India and served as a Member of Parliament and Governor. Inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the Gavai family embraced Buddhism, and Justice Gavai is recognized as a Neo-Buddhist Ambedkarite.
Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985, practicing at the Bombay High Court, particularly at its Nagpur Bench. He served as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor before being appointed as a judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003. In 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India.
Judicial Contributions
Throughout his tenure, Justice Gavai has been part of several landmark judgments:
- Article 370 Abrogation: He was involved in the bench that upheld the constitutional validity of the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.
- Demonetisation: Justice Gavai was part of the five-judge bench that upheld the government’s 2016 demonetisation decision.
- Electoral Bonds Scheme: He contributed to the verdict declaring the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional.
In total, he has authored approximately 300 judgments, many from Constitution Benches, reflecting his significant role in shaping Indian jurisprudence .
Tenure and Responsibilities
Justice Gavai succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna and will serve as CJI until his retirement on November 23, 2025. As Chief Justice, he also serves as the ex officio patron-in-chief of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) and chancellor of various National Law Universities .(Indiatimes, Wikipedia)
His appointment is seen as a step toward greater inclusivity and representation in the Indian judiciary, inspiring many from marginalized communities .
For a visual overview of the swearing-in ceremony, you can watch the official video below:
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