Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office, marking the beginning of Justice Gavai’s tenure, which will last for six months until his retirement in November. He succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna in the nation’s top judicial post.
Following the swearing-in, Justice Gavai received congratulatory messages from President Murmu, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other Union Cabinet members. Former Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna was also present to offer his best wishes.
Justice Gavai, who began his legal career in 1985, was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003 and became a permanent judge in 2005. He was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019. Known for his intellectual depth and pragmatism, he has authored around 300 landmark judgments, including those upholding the Centre’s 2016 demonetisation decision and declaring the electoral bonds scheme unconstitutional.
A trailblazer, Justice Gavai is the second Dalit to hold the Chief Justice position, following Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan. His father, RS Gavai, was a social activist and former governor. Senior lawyer Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta praised Justice Gavai for his humility, legal brilliance, and impartiality, highlighting his immense contribution to Indian jurisprudence.
