Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has officially assumed office as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI), succeeding Justice Sanjiv Khanna. His appointment marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first Buddhist and the second Dalit Chief Justice of India.
The oath of office was administered to Justice Gavai by President of India, Droupadi Murmu, during a formal ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. This significant event was attended by several notable dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, S. Jaishankar, Piyush Goyal, and Arjun Ram Meghwal. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, former President Ram Nath Kovind, and former CJI Sanjiv Khanna were also present.
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The Supreme Court was well-represented, with Justices Surya Kant, A.G. Masih, P.S. Narasimha, B.V. Nagarathna, and Bela Trivedi witnessing the swearing-in ceremony.
"Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is the second Chief Justice of India from the Scheduled Caste community, following Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, who served as CJI until 2010."
Justice Gavai's journey to the highest judicial office in the country began with his elevation from the Bombay High Court to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. His term as the Chief Justice of India will continue until November 23, 2025, providing him a tenure of just over six months.
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Justice Gavai's appointment is seen as a significant step toward increasing representation in the Indian judiciary, especially for marginalized communities. His tenure is expected to further uphold the principles of justice, equality, and inclusivity in the country’s highest court.
