Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is poised to take over as the 52nd Chief Justice of India, following a formal recommendation made by the current Chief Justice, Sanjiv Khanna, to the Central Government.
Justice Gavai will assume office on May 14, a day after CJI Khanna’s retirement on May 13.
Seasoned Jurist With A Strong Track Record
Justice Gavai, currently the 2nd senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, will serve as the CJI until November 23, 2025, giving him a tenure of a little over six months. He was appointed to the apex court on May 24, 2019, after serving extensively in the Bombay High Court, where he first joined as an additional judge in November 2003 and became permanent in 2005.
Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai brings with him over three decades of experience in the legal field.
Contributor To Landmark Court Judgments
Justice Gavai has played a pivotal role in several high-stakes constitutional matters. Among them:
- He was part of the bench that upheld the Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370, ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir.
- He contributed to the verdict that struck down the electoral bonds scheme, calling for transparency in political funding.
- He was one of the judges who upheld the 2016 demonetisation policy, supporting the Centre’s controversial economic move.
- Justice Gavai was also involved in a verdict allowing states to create sub-classifications within the Scheduled Castes for reservation benefits.
- He helped establish that arbitration clauses remain valid even in unstamped agreements, ruling that such issues are procedural and curable.
In a significant ruling, a bench led by him laid down guidelines preventing unauthorised demolitions, stating that a show-cause notice must be issued and a 15-day response window given before any action.
Currently, Justice Gavai heads benches dealing with environmental matters, including issues concerning forests, wildlife, and tree protection.
Justice Gavai began his legal practice in 1985 and was appointed as government pleader and public prosecutor at the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court in 2000. He has represented several government and municipal bodies, including the Nagpur and Amravati municipal corporations.
His elevation to the Supreme Court marked a notable milestone in a legal career grounded in both public service and constitutional law.
Appointment Process As Per Tradition
According to the Memorandum of Procedure—the official guideline for appointing judges—the senior-most Supreme Court judge is typically named as the next CJI. The Union Law Minister formally seeks the recommendation of the outgoing CJI as part of this process.
Justice Gavai’s name was put forward by CJI Khanna in line with this tradition, ensuring a seamless transition in the country’s top judicial office.
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