Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is all set to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India. He will assume office on May 14, 2025, succeeding Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who is set to demit office on May 13. Justice Gavai will serve as CJI until his retirement on November 23, 2025.

B R Gavai’s appointment as the 52nd Chief Justice of India is expected to be formalised following the President’s approval of the recommendation. Justice Gavai will become the second Chief Justice of India from the Scheduled Caste community, after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan. His elevation follows the seniority convention and a recommendation made by CJI Sanjiv Khanna to the Union Government on April 16.

Justice Gavai has served on several Constitution Benches. He was part of the bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370, invalidated the electoral bonds scheme for political funding, and upheld the Centre’s 2016 demonetisation decision. Justice Gavai currently serves as Chancellor of Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, and is the ex officio Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority.

Background and legal career Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice  Gavai hails from a family deeply inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and follows Buddhism.  His father, R.S. Gavai, was a prominent politician and former Governor, while his brother, Rajendra Gavai, is also active in public life.

Justice Gavai began his legal practice in 1985 under the mentorship of Raja S. Bhonsale, former Advocate General and High Court judge. He started independent practice at the Bombay High Court in 1987 and later focused on constitutional and administrative law at the Nagpur Bench. He was appointed Assistant Government Pleader in 1992 and became Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor in 2000. He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003 and became a permanent judge in 2005. In May 2019, he was appointed to the Supreme Court of India.