Overview

• Chief Justice Gavai recalled that Madras High Court Chief Justice SV Gangapurwala was not elevated to the Supreme Court because the Bombay High Court had already supplied four judges to the apex bench.
• He pledged to disclose collegium deliberations once he retires on November 24, 2025 to promote transparency in judicial appointments.
• He said the Supreme Court Collegium has always prioritized merit over caste, religion or class when recommending judges for elevation.
• He reiterated his support for establishing a bench of the Bombay High Court at Kolhapur to ensure that litigants need not journey to Mumbai for hearings.
• He noted that his tenure has about six months remaining and that decentralizing the courts is crucial to making justice more accessible and affordable.