BR Gavai, Indias 52nd CJI: A Trailblazer Who Becomes First Buddhist To Hold Post

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was once sworn in because the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Wednesday, a landmark second as the primary Buddhist to go the rustic’s judiciary. The rite was once carried out at Rashtrapati Bhavan with President Droupadi Murmu provide. Justice Gavai takes over from the outgoing CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who retired on Tuesday. His time period will ultimate just a little greater than six months till November 23, 2025, when he attains the obligatory retirement age of 65.

A local of Maharashtra’s Amravati, Justice Gavai could also be the second one member of the Scheduled Caste group to grow to be the CJI, after Justice Okay.G. Balakrishnan. Just seven judges from the Scheduled Castes or Scheduled Tribes had been a part of the Supreme Court bench since its established order in 1950.

#WATCH | Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu administers oath of place of business to Justice BR Gavai because the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

(Video Source: President of India/social media) pic.twitter.com/3J9xMbz3kw
— ANI (@ANI) May 14, 2025

Justice Gavai has been outspoken in regards to the position of affirmative motion in his existence. Addressing a serve as in April 2024, he gave credit score to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar for opening the trail for people from downtrodden communities. “It is solely due to Dr B.R. Ambedkar’s efforts that someone like me, who studied in a semi-slum area at a municipal school, could attain this position,” he had mentioned, finishing his deal with with “Jai Bhim,” which earned him a status ovation.

Justice Gavai, who was once appointed to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, has sat on a variety of Constitution Benches and assisted in landmark judgments. He sat at the five-judge bench that unanimously dominated in favour of the Centre’s 2019 revocation of Article 370, stripping Jammu and Kashmir of its particular standing. He additionally sat at the bench which held the scheme of electoral bonds unconstitutional previous this 12 months.

Justice Gavai began his prison follow in 1985 with former Advocate General and choose of the Bombay High Court Raja S. Bhonsale. He was once made an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003 and was once made an enduring choose in 2005. He practiced most commonly constitutional and administrative regulation on the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court and was once status suggest to more than a few civic our bodies and universities in Maharashtra.

His ascension to the very best judicial place of business is each a non-public success and a symbolic second of illustration and inclusion in India’s very best courtroom.