New Delhi, April 17: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is set to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on May 14, succeeding Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who currently holds the top judicial post in the country. Justice Gavai's elevation follows the standard memorandum of procedure, under which the law minister consults the outgoing CJI to recommend their successor.
Currently the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court after CJI Khanna, Justice Gavai will hold office until his retirement on November 23, 2025, in accordance with the prescribed retirement age of 65 years for Supreme Court judges.
5 Key Facts About Justice BR Gavai:
Early Life and Legal Career:
Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985. He trained under the late Raja S Bhonsale, a former Advocate General and High Court Judge, before starting independent practice in 1987 at the Bombay High Court.
Focus on Constitutional Law:
Justice Gavai specialized in Constitutional and Administrative Law, representing civic bodies like the Municipal Corporations of Nagpur and Amravati, and institutions like Amravati University. In 1992, he was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, later becoming Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor in 2000.
Judicial Appointments:
He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003, and became a permanent judge in 2005. He served across the High Court's Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji benches before being elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.
Key Constitutional Bench Verdicts:
Justice Gavai has played a significant role in landmark constitutional judgments. He was part of the five-judge bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370 in December 2023, effectively ending Jammu and Kashmir's special status.
Major Verdicts on Electoral Bonds and Demonetisation:
Justice Gavai was also part of two other high-profile Constitution benches—one that struck down the electoral bonds scheme for political funding, and another that upheld the Centre’s 2016 demonetisation move, validating the withdrawal of ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes by a 4:1 majority.
As Justice Gavai prepares to take over the helm of the judiciary, his deep experience in constitutional matters and long-standing public service are expected to shape his tenure as Chief Justice.