Justice BR Gavai will be the 52nd Chief Justice of India from May 14, succeeding the outgoing CJI Sanjiv Khanna. His elevation is a milestone moment in the judiciary of the nation, as he becomes only the second Dalit to occupy the position after Justice KG Balakrishnan.
From Maharashtra’s Amravati, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai comes with a distinguished track record of more than three decades—spanning from being a government pleader and public prosecutor to a Supreme Court judge engaged in pathbreaking judgments like the 2016 demonetisation case and the electoral bonds matter.
Chief Justice of India #SanjivKhanna has formally proposed Justice #BRGavai as his successor. The recommendation has been sent to the law ministry as part of the appointment process. Justice Gavai is presently the senior-most judge of the #SupremeCourt after CJI Khanna. pic.twitter.com/QC257rXPZ3
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) April 16, 2025
Although his term will extend for merely around six months, his ascension is part of a larger movement towards diversity and representation in India’s highest court.
A Six-Month Tenure, But a Big Symbol
Justice BR Gavai’s tenure as CJI will be brief. He is set to retire in November 2025, giving him around six months in the position. However, his appointment carries deep symbolic weight. It highlights India’s slow but visible move toward greater caste representation in the higher judiciary.
From Amravati to the Apex Court
Born in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice BR Gavai began practicing law in 1985. Initially, he practiced law with Raja S Bhonsale, who was a retired Advocate General and High Court judge. In 1987, he had established independent practice at the Bombay High Court in the field of constitutional and administrative law.
He appeared on behalf of various public entities, including Nagpur and Amravati municipal corporations and Amravati University. He represented state governments like DCVL and SICOM as well.
Government roles and judicial ascent
In 1994, Justice Gavai was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court. In 2002, he became Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the same bench.
One year later, in 2003, he was designated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court. He became a permanent judge in 2005 and then served at Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji benches.
Judgments as Supreme Court Judge
Justice Gavai joined the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. Since joining, he has pronounced or assisted in a series of landmark verdicts. Most notably, he was part of the bench that validated the Modi government’s 2016 demonetisation move. He also helped invalidate the controversial electoral bonds scheme, a giant step towards political donation transparency.
With the appointment of Justice Gavai, India makes a symbolic step on diversity and inclusion in the judiciary. While his term as Chief Justice will be short, the influence of his judicial work and legacy will resound.
