Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi
New Delhi, May 14: Justice BR Gavai, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, has been sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. The oath was administered by President Droupadi Murmu in a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan at 10 am on Wednesday, May 14.
In a historic moment, Justice Gavai becomes only the second person from the Dalit community to hold the prestigious office of CJI, following in the footsteps of Justice KG Balakrishnan, the 37th Chief Justice of India.
Justice Gavai succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retired on April 13, after a brief tenure of six months. Justice Khanna had recommended Justice Gavai’s name as his successor on April 16, and the formal notification from the Centre followed on April 29.
The ceremony was attended by several key figures, including Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker OM Birla, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, along with outgoing CJI Khanna, sitting and former Supreme Court judges, and various dignitaries from the legal and political sectors.
After taking the oath, Justice Gavai touched the feet of his mother, Kamaltai Gavai, as a gesture of respect and gratitude.
Justice Gavai, who was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, will serve as the Chief Justice of India for a tenure of over six months, retiring on November 23, 2025. His appointment is in line with the convention of appointing the senior-most judge as the CJI, although there have been rare exceptions in the past.
Known for his contributions to significant Constitutional Bench rulings, Justice Gavai played a key role in the landmark decision upholding the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in December 2023. He was also part of the Bench that quashed the electoral bonds scheme for political funding in February 2024 and upheld the demonetization of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currency notes in 2016.
Justice Gavai’s career began in 1985, and he served in various significant capacities, including as a permanent judge at the Bombay High Court. His appointment as CJI marks a new chapter in India’s judicial history, and his leadership will be pivotal in shaping the future of the country’s legal system