NAGPUR: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, a distinguished jurist with roots in Maharashtra’s Amravati and a long-standing career in the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court, is all set to take oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14. His elevation marks a significant milestone—not just for Vidarbha and Nagpur's legal fraternity, but also for broader representation within the Indian judiciary. He will become only the second Dalit ever to occupy the nation’s highest judicial post, after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan.
His name was recommended by the outgoing CJI Sanjiv Khanna to the Union Law Ministry to appoint him as next CJI. Justice Gavai, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, would have a tenure of over six months as the CJI. He is due to retire on November 23, 2025.
Justice Gavai’s tenure may be brief—ending in November 2025 due to superannuation—but it carries historical weight. His nomination was recommended by the incumbent Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, following the established tradition of seniority-based succession.
Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Justice Gavai began his legal practice in 1985 under barrister Raja Bhonsale, a former Advocate General and High Court judge. He later practised independently in the Bombay High Court and soon shifted to the Nagpur Bench, where he made a mark in constitutional and administrative law. In 1992, he was appointed Assistant Government Pleader, and by 2000, he rose to become Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench.
Justice Gavai’s judicial elevation came in 2003 as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court. Two years later, he became a permanent judge, and in 2019, he was appointed to the Supreme Court. His jurisprudence at the apex court has shaped major constitutional interpretations. He was part of the five-judge bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370 and struck down the electoral bonds scheme. He also served on the bench that validated the 2016 demonetisation decision and supported the constitutional authority of states to sub-categorise Scheduled Castes for targeted reservation.
Admired for his legal scholarship, balanced judgments, and accessibility, Justice Gavai's elevation is also a moment of pride for the city of Nagpur, making him the third jurist from the city to ascend to the CJI's chair after Justices Mohammed Hidayatullah and Sharad Bobde. His father, RS. “Dadasaheb” Gavai, was a former Governor of Bihar and a prominent Dalit leader, reflecting a legacy deeply entrenched in public service and social equity.
Justice Gavai's tenure comes at a time when the judiciary faces heightened scrutiny over independence and transparency. His leadership is expected to focus on institutional integrity, access to justice, and a reaffirmation of constitutional values.
His name was recommended by the outgoing CJI Sanjiv Khanna to the Union Law Ministry to appoint him as next CJI. Justice Gavai, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, would have a tenure of over six months as the CJI. He is due to retire on November 23, 2025.
Justice Gavai’s tenure may be brief—ending in November 2025 due to superannuation—but it carries historical weight. His nomination was recommended by the incumbent Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, following the established tradition of seniority-based succession.
Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Justice Gavai began his legal practice in 1985 under barrister Raja Bhonsale, a former Advocate General and High Court judge. He later practised independently in the Bombay High Court and soon shifted to the Nagpur Bench, where he made a mark in constitutional and administrative law. In 1992, he was appointed Assistant Government Pleader, and by 2000, he rose to become Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench.
Justice Gavai’s judicial elevation came in 2003 as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court. Two years later, he became a permanent judge, and in 2019, he was appointed to the Supreme Court. His jurisprudence at the apex court has shaped major constitutional interpretations. He was part of the five-judge bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370 and struck down the electoral bonds scheme. He also served on the bench that validated the 2016 demonetisation decision and supported the constitutional authority of states to sub-categorise Scheduled Castes for targeted reservation.
Admired for his legal scholarship, balanced judgments, and accessibility, Justice Gavai's elevation is also a moment of pride for the city of Nagpur, making him the third jurist from the city to ascend to the CJI's chair after Justices Mohammed Hidayatullah and Sharad Bobde. His father, RS. “Dadasaheb” Gavai, was a former Governor of Bihar and a prominent Dalit leader, reflecting a legacy deeply entrenched in public service and social equity.
Justice Gavai's tenure comes at a time when the judiciary faces heightened scrutiny over independence and transparency. His leadership is expected to focus on institutional integrity, access to justice, and a reaffirmation of constitutional values.
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