Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India, marks a historic moment as the country’s first Buddhist to hold the position and only the second Dalit CJI after K.G. Balakrishnan.

Appointed by President Droupadi Murmu, his tenure will run until November 23, 2025.

Born on November 24, 1960, in Maharashtra’s Amravati district, Justice Gavai’s journey from modest beginnings to the apex of the judiciary is a powerful testament to perseverance and dedication.

The son of R.S. Gavai, a noted politician and founder of the Republican Party of India (Gavai), he paid tribute to his roots by touching his mother’s feet after taking the oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Justice Gavai enrolled at the Bar on March 16, 1985, and built his legal foundation in Nagpur, serving as standing counsel for various municipal bodies and as public prosecutor for the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court.

He was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003 and became a permanent judge in 2005. He was appointed to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.

Over six years at the apex court, Justice Gavai was part of around 700 benches and authored approximately 300 judgments, covering constitutional, civil, criminal, commercial, arbitration, and environmental law. His jurisprudence consistently upheld constitutional values, civil liberties, and due process.

Among his notable judgments, he led the bench that stayed a controversial Allahabad High Court ruling which trivialized serious allegations of sexual assault, calling out its “inhuman” and “insensitive” stance. His judicial leadership has stood firmly against arbitrary state action, including the misuse of demolition drives—popularly referred to as "bulldozer justice"—and he laid down pan-India guidelines to prevent unlawful demolitions without due notice.

Justice Gavai has contributed to several constitution bench rulings of national importance:

• Abrogation of Article 370: He was part of the unanimous verdict upholding the Centre’s move to revoke Jammu & Kashmir’s special status.

• Electoral Bonds Scheme: A member of the bench that struck down the scheme, citing concerns over transparency in political funding.

• Demonetisation: He supported the Centre's 2016 decision to invalidate ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes in a 4:1 majority ruling.

• Scheduled Castes Sub-Classification: He was part of the 6:1 majority that upheld states’ authority to create sub-quotas within SCs.

• Freedom of Speech: The bench he sat on ruled that no additional restrictions can be imposed on free speech by high public functionaries beyond those already enumerated in the Constitution.

• Arbitration Law: He ruled that an arbitration clause in an unstamped or insufficiently stamped contract remains enforceable.

Justice Gavai has also demonstrated a keen sensitivity to environmental concerns, issuing rulings that bolster the protection of forests, wildlife, and urban greenery. His scholarly contributions include lectures at prestigious institutions such as Columbia and Harvard Universities.

As Chief Justice, he faces the monumental challenge of reducing the backlog of over 81,000 cases pending in the Supreme Court, and addressing systemic issues such as judicial vacancies. He will also preside over hearings on key constitutional challenges, including the validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

In an informal interaction just days before his swearing-in, Justice Gavai affirmed his commitment to the Constitution’s supremacy and made it clear that he would not accept any post-retirement positions.

Nominated by outgoing CJI Sanjiv Khanna, his appointment was officially notified by the Union Law Ministry on April 29, 2025.

Justice Gavai’s legacy is not only rooted in his groundbreaking judicial pronouncements but also in the symbolic power of his elevation—bringing greater inclusivity to the highest office in India’s judiciary.