Justice BR Gavai Sworn In as 52nd Chief Justice of India, Becomes First Buddhist CJI
Justice BR Gavai took oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on Wednesday, marking a historic moment as the first CJI from the Buddhist community.
President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice BR Gavai at Rashtrapati Bhavan, officially appointing him as the head of India’s judiciary. He succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna and will serve a tenure of over six months, demitting office on November 23.
Justice Gavai’s appointment marks a significant milestone in the judiciary, as he becomes the first Chief Justice of India from the Buddhist community. He is the third Dalit to hold the post after K.G. Balakrishnan and CJI S.A. Bobde.
Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985 and started independent practice at the Bombay High Court in 1987. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, after serving as a judge in the Bombay High Court since 2003.
He was part of several high-profile Constitution benches in the apex court. Most notably, he was on the five-judge bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370 in December 2023, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status.
Born into a politically influential family, Justice Gavai is the son of the late RS Gavai, a former Governor of Bihar, Kerala, and Sikkim, and a veteran leader of the Republican Party of India (Gavai faction).
His appointment has been widely welcomed as a reflection of growing social diversity and inclusion in the highest echelons of the judiciary.
Justice Gavai’s short tenure is expected to focus on key judicial reforms and maintaining judicial independence amid growing scrutiny of the higher judiciary’s functioning.
With critical matters like electoral reforms, digital privacy, and pending constitutional challenges on the docket, his leadership will be closely watched.
