Dalit History Month: India Gets Her Second Dalit CJI in B.R. Gavai

New Delhi- Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has been named the 52nd Chief Justice of India, set to take office on May 14, 2025, succeeding Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retires the previous day. Justice Gavai will make history as the second Dalit to hold the position, following Justice K.G. Balakrishnan (2007–2010), marking a significant milestone for inclusivity in India’s judiciary.

Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai is the son of R.S. Gavai, a prominent social activist, former MP, and ex-Governor of Bihar and Kerala. Enrolling as an advocate in 1985, he practiced Constitutional and Administrative Law at the Bombay High Court, representing bodies like the Municipal Corporations of Nagpur and Amravati, and Amravati University. From 1992, he served as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench, rising to Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor by 2000.

Justice Gavai’s judicial career began as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003, becoming permanent in 2005. He presided over cases in Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji before his elevation to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. The Collegium cited his seniority, integrity, and the need for Scheduled Caste representation in recommending his appointment.

In the Supreme Court, Justice Gavai contributed to pivotal rulings, including the 2023 validation of the 2016 demonetization policy, the abrogation of Article 370, and the declaration of the electoral bonds scheme as unconstitutional. He also participated in the contempt case against advocate Prashant Bhushan. As Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority and Chancellor of Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, he has championed legal access and education. In March 2025, speaking at Kenya’s Supreme Court, he highlighted technology’s role in justice delivery while cautioning against misinformation from livestreamed court proceedings.

Justice Gavai will assume the CJI role with an oath administered by President Droupadi Murmu, serving until his retirement on November 23, 2025. His appointment reinforces the judiciary’s commitment to diversity and constitutional principles.