Justice B.R. Gavai sworn in as 52nd Chief Justice of India, a historic moment for representation

New Delhi(The Uttam Hindu: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in today as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, where President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office. He succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who demitted office on May 13 after a brief tenure as the 51st CJI.

Justice Gavai became the second CJI from the Dalit community, following Justice K.G. Balakrishnan who held the post from 2007 to 2010. He will serve as the head of the judiciary until November 23, 2025, with a tenure of just over six months. Born on November 24, 1960, Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985 and built his reputation practicing at the Bombay High Court and its Nagpur Bench. He was appointed to the Bombay High Court in 2003 and later elevated to the Supreme Court in May 2019.

He hails from a family with a strong legacy of public service. His father, Ramakrishna Suryabhan Gavai, was a respected Ambedkarite leader, parliamentarian, and former Governor of Bihar, Sikkim, and Kerala. Justice Gavai’s elevation to the top judicial post is being widely seen as a landmark moment for social representation in India’s higher judiciary. His tenure as CJI is expected to oversee crucial constitutional matters, judicial reforms, and landmark rulings.