On May 14, 2025, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as India’s 52nd Chief Justice, marking an important milestone in the country’s judicial history. The President of India administered the oath of office on April 16, 2025, as the outgoing Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, recommended. On April 29, 2025, the Ministry of Law and Justice officially approved the appointment.
Justice Gavai is the first Buddhist to hold this important position, and only the second Chief Justice from the Scheduled Caste community after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan. His time as CJI will span six months, concluding with his retirement on November 23, 2025.
Justice Gavai was born in Amravati in 1960 and hails from a family that values social justice. He began his legal career in 1985 and has successfully practised constitutional and administrative law. His judicial career has included positions as Government Pleader, Public Prosecutor, and ultimately Judge of the Bombay High Court.
Justice Gavai was appointed to the Supreme Court in May 2019. He has written about 300 major decisions and sat on over 700 benches. His decisions have emphasised the importance of individual rights, environmental conservation, and constitutional fairness.
