Following the recommendation of the outgoing Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the 52nd Chief Justice of India, with effect from May 14, 2025. Justice Gavai will hold the top judicial post until his retirement on November 23, 2025.
Justice Gavai’s appointment is historic—he becomes only the second Chief Justice of India from the Dalit community, following Justice K.G. Balakrishnan (2007–2010). His elevation has been widely lauded as a step forward in promoting social representation within the highest echelons of the Indian judiciary.
Born in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985 and has since built a distinguished career in constitutional and administrative law. He served as a judge of the Bombay High Court and was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019. His father, the late R.S. Gavai, was a well-known politician and governor of Bihar and Kerala, deeply influenced by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s ideology.
Over his tenure at the Supreme Court, Justice Gavai has been part of several major constitutional benches. Notable among these are:
- Upholding the abrogation of Article 370 (J&K special status)
- Supporting the Centre’s 2016 demonetisation decision
- Striking down the electoral bonds scheme for lack of transparency
- Declaring the unlawful demolition of the accused persons’ homes without due process
Justice Gavai’s tenure, though short, is expected to carry symbolic weight and continue efforts toward judicial accountability, inclusion, and constitutional balance.
