https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Who Is Justice BR Gavai, the Next Chief Justice of India Set to Take Oath on May 14?

Justice Gavai will become the second Dalit judge to occupy the top judicial post in India, after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who served as CJI from 2007 to 2010.
Indian Masterminds Stories

New Delhi: In a key development for the Indian judiciary, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna has officially recommended Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor. Justice Gavai is set to take oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14, 2025, a day after Justice Khanna retires on May 13.

The recommendation has been forwarded to the Union Law Ministry for formal approval. The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, will administer the oath of office at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

A Historic Appointment

Justice Gavai will become the second Dalit judge to occupy the top judicial post in India, after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who served as CJI from 2007 to 2010. Justice Gavai will hold office for approximately six months, as he is scheduled to retire in November 2025.

Distinguished Legal Career

Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career in March 1985. He initially worked under the late Raja S. Bhonsale, former Advocate General and High Court judge, before starting independent practice at the Bombay High Court in 1987.

With a specialization in Constitutional and Administrative Law, Justice Gavai represented numerous civic and educational bodies, including the Nagpur and Amravati Municipal Corporations, Amravati University, and state-run corporations like SICOM and DCVL.

He was appointed Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court in 1992 and promoted to Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor in 2000.

Justice Gavai was appointed Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003, serving at multiple benches including Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.

Justice Gavai with his family

Notable Judgments

During his tenure at the Supreme Court, Justice Gavai has been part of several landmark verdicts, notably:

  • Upholding the Modi government’s 2016 demonetisation decision
  • Striking down the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional

A Transition in Leadership

It is a tradition that the sitting Chief Justice of India (CJI) recommends the name of their successor only upon receiving a request from the Law Ministry. The term of the current CJI, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, ends on May 13. Following this, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is set to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

Justice Gavai is next in the order of seniority after CJI Khanna, and therefore, Justice Khanna has recommended his name. However, Justice Gavai’s tenure will be relatively short – just seven months. He is scheduled to retire on November 23, 2025.

Justice Gavai will take over at a pivotal time for the judiciary, with ongoing discussions around judicial reforms, case backlogs, and the use of technology in courts. His experience and judicial acumen are expected to guide the Supreme Court through this transitional phase.

Chief Justice’s Appointment Process

The appointment of the CJI follows a well-established process rooted in both constitutional provisions and judicial convention. While the power to appoint lies with the Central Government, the process is guided by a long-standing tradition of seniority and consultation.

Who Becomes the CJI?: As a rule of practice, the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court is appointed as the Chief Justice of India. The tenure of the CJI is determined by the time left before the judge reaches the retirement age of 65. Over the next seven years, eight judges are in line – based on seniority – to assume the top post in India’s judiciary.

Three-Stage Appointment Process: The Memorandum of Procedure (MoP) outlines the steps for the appointment of the CJI-

  1. Recommendation by the Current CJI:
    One month before retirement, the Union Law Minister formally requests the outgoing CJI to recommend the name of their successor. For example, CJI DY Chandrachud had recommended Justice Sanjiv Khanna for the post via a letter dated October 17, 2024.
  2. Processing by the Law Ministry:
    The recommendation is sent to the Prime Minister by the Law Minister.
  3. Appointment by the President:
    The Prime Minister forwards the recommendation to the President of India, who formally appoints the next CJI.

Constitutional Authority, Conventional Practice: While the Constitution gives the Central Government the authority to appoint the Chief Justice, in practice, the government adheres to the seniority principle and appoints the judge recommended by the outgoing CJI. This convention ensures the independence and continuity of the judiciary.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
indian-forest-service IFS Officers
Peenya Land Row: IFS Officer R Gokul Faces Suspension After Writing to CBI, Alleges Victimisation
CBI
CBI Arrests ED Deputy Director in ₹2 Crore Bribery Case in Odisha; Vigilance Nabs Engineer with ₹15 Lakh Unaccounted Cash
GRSE Hybrid
GRSE Lays Keel for 13 Hybrid Ferries to Power Bengal’s Green Waterways, Boosting Sustainable River Transport
SJVN
Result: SJVN Declares Final Dividend of ₹0.31 Despite Q4 Loss of ₹127.6 Cr in FY25 - Details Inside
Reserve-Bank-of-India_RBI_resized
Bank Frauds Triple in FY25 Due to Reclassification: RBI Report
IFFCO-resized
Result: IFFCO Reports 16% Rise in Net Profit to ₹2,823 Cr in FY25, Boosted by Nano Fertiliser Sales
ECI Sadan_ Election
GoI Appoints IRS Bidyarani Konthoujam & IPS Manoj C As Directors in Election Commission - Know More About Them
IAS Officers Indian Administrative Services IAS logo
IAS K C Devasenapathi Appointed Secy of Coastal Aquaculture Authority; Archana P P Transferred to Kerala Cadre
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
Modernising Governance: A Digital Transformation in Gangtok
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Abhishek Singh's SECRET: Vipassana, Anthropology & Smart Answer Writing | Video Interview 
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
From Gwalior to the Top 20: What Drove Finance Pro Madhav Agarwal to Crack UPSC CSE 2024 with AIR 16? | Exclusive
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
WhatsApp Image 2025-05-28 at 18.56
Didn’t Clear UPSC But Found Something Greater: A Story That Will Change How You See Success
She left a top finance job for UPSC, did not clear but built a thriving wellness brand instead. Veda's...
Mayank Malviya IFS mENTOR
The Amazing Journey of a Failed IFS Aspirant-cum-Mentor Who Has Given More Than 130 Selections in Just 4 Years
From multiple UPSC failures to mentoring 130+ successful aspirants, Mayank Malviya’s Planet Geo empowers...
Anjali Sondhiya UPSC IFS (1)
Engaged in 10th, 8 Years of Preparation, How This IFS Topper Cracked the UPSC: Anjali Sondhiya’s Journey - A Lesson For Every Girl
Anjali Sondhiya defied early engagement and societal pressure to crack UPSC’s IFS exam-2024 with AIR...
Social Media
parveen kaswan elephant
Elephant Outsmarts Electric Fence! IFS Parveen Kaswan Shares Incredible Video!
In the now-viral 51-second clip, the intelligent giant approaches a wooden pole supporting high-voltage...
UPSC Latest IAS IPS IFS
UPSC CSE Prelims 2025 Tomorrow: ICLS Officer Altap Shaikh Shares Last-Minute Motivation for Aspirants
His five-post thread offers encouragement, practical advice, and emotional support - not just for those...
Anupam Sharma IFS
#BoycottTurkey: IFS Officer Anupam Sharma Sparks Nationalist Call to Action
IFS Sharma urged citizens to avoid Turkish agricultural imports
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
indian-forest-service IFS Officers
Peenya Land Row: IFS Officer R Gokul Faces Suspension After Writing to CBI, Alleges Victimisation
CBI
CBI Arrests ED Deputy Director in ₹2 Crore Bribery Case in Odisha; Vigilance Nabs Engineer with ₹15 Lakh Unaccounted Cash
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IAS Tushar G Nikhare
IMG-20250523-WA0036
Madhav Agarwal UPSC
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT