Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai takes oath as 52nd Chief Justice of India
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India this morning, following the retirement of Justice Sanjiv Khanna yesterday. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to the 64-year-old at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The event was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers, former CJIs, and both current and retired judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
Justice Gavai has made history as the first Buddhist and the second Dalit to be appointed Chief Justice of India, after Justice KG Balakrishnan. He will serve a tenure of six months and nine days, with his retirement scheduled for November 23, 2025.
During an informal media interaction on Sunday, Justice Gavai described his elevation as a significant opportunity to promote social and political justice. He expressed a commitment to increasing the representation of women and underrepresented communities in constitutional courts.
A major focus of his term, he said, will be reducing case pendency, especially in the Supreme Court. “We have already begun work on categorisation,” he noted. He also emphasized the urgent need to fill judicial vacancies, highlighting the direct link between unfilled positions and rising backlogs. “The Collegium under my leadership will make this a top priority,” he added.
Firm Stand on Judicial Dignity
When asked about BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s controversial statement regarding the Waqf case—where Dubey claimed Justice Sanjiv Khanna could be “responsible for civil wars in India”—Justice Gavai made it clear that attacks on the judiciary’s dignity will not be tolerated. “There will be no compromise if someone undermines the dignity of the court or its judges,” he said. While CJI Khanna had issued a strong order condemning the remark as “hate speech against the judiciary,” he chose not to initiate contempt proceedings. The Court stressed its strength, asserting it is “not as fragile as flowers” to be shaken by baseless comments.
A Historic Moment for the Buddhist Community
Justice Gavai called it a “meaningful coincidence” that his swearing-in took place just two days after Buddha Purnima. On May 12, he visited Delhi’s Shanti Stupa with his family to mark the occasion. His father converted to Buddhism in 1956 during the mass conversion movement led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, which saw around half a million Dalits embracing Buddhism. Since then, his entire family has followed the faith, a tradition Justice Gavai continues.
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