New Delhi: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai took oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) at a formal ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday. The oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu. Justice Gavai succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who recently demitted office.
Dignitaries including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Cabinet members, and several senior legal luminaries attended the ceremony. Former CJI Sanjiv Khanna was also present and personally extended his congratulations to his successor.
Justice Gavai will serve as Chief Justice for a tenure of approximately six months before his retirement in November 2025.
Beginning his legal career in 1985, Justice Gavai practiced law at the Bombay High Court before being appointed as an Additional Judge in 2003. He was made a permanent judge in 2005 and elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019.
During his tenure on the Supreme Court bench, Justice Gavai has contributed to several landmark rulings. Notably, he was part of the bench that upheld the Central Government’s 2016 demonetisation move and later joined the verdict that struck down the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional. With over 300 judgments to his name, including key Constitution Bench decisions on fundamental rights, Justice Gavai has played a significant role in shaping Indian jurisprudence.
He is only the second Dalit to ascend to the position of Chief Justice of India, following Justice KG Balakrishnan. His father, the late RS Gavai, was a prominent social activist, parliamentarian, and former Governor of three Indian states. He also founded the Republican Party of India (Gavai).
Legal figures across the spectrum lauded Justice Gavai’s elevation. Senior advocate and MP Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi praised him as “one of the most pragmatic and result-oriented judges,” highlighting his courtroom demeanor, legal expertise, and balanced approach to justice. “I wish he had a longer tenure,” Dr. Singhvi remarked.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described Justice Gavai as “humility personified,” adding, “He is brilliant but grounded, intellectually independent and impartial. He has contributed immensely to the development of Indian jurisprudence across various branches of law.”
Mr. Mehta further emphasized Justice Gavai’s connection to the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, calling him “unpretentious and unassuming,” and one of the finest judges the nation has seen.
Sorry, there was a YouTube error.
