Overview

• Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai officially took oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14, 2025, administered by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• His appointment marks a milestone in representation, as he is the first Buddhist and only the second individual from the Dalit community to hold the position since the Supreme Court's inception in 1950.
• Gavai succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna and will serve a six-month tenure, concluding with his retirement on November 23, 2025.
• During his career, Justice Gavai has been part of approximately 700 benches and authored 300 judgments, including landmark rulings on Article 370, electoral bonds, and demonetisation.
• As Chief Justice, Gavai's docket includes critical cases, such as challenges to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, while the judiciary continues to address over 81,000 pending cases.