New Delhi : Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India today. President Draupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to him at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, several Union Ministers, several Supreme Court judges and Justice Gavai’s mother, wife and other family members attended the ceremony.
Justice Gavai will hold the post of CJI for more than 6 months, he will turn 65 in November. Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s term as CJI ended on Tuesday (May 13, 2025).
Justice Gavai was elevated as a Supreme Court judge on May 24, 2019.
About Justice BR Gavai
Born on November 24, 1960 in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai was elevated as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003. He became a permanent judge of the High Court on November 12, 2005. Justice Gavai was elevated as a Supreme Court judge on May 24, 2019.
Important Judgments of Justice B. R Gavai
Article 370
When on August 5, 2019, the central government approved in Parliament to remove the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir by Article 370 and 35A, petitions were filed in the Supreme Court against this decision. At that time, this case was heard by a bench of 5 judges headed by CJI DY Chandrachud, one of whom was BR Gavai.
Bulldozer Judgment
In 2024, the Supreme Court had termed arbitrary bulldozer action without following the legal process as lawlessness and anarchy. This order was given by a bench of Justice Gavai and Justice KV Vishwanathan. In which he had said that it is not right to run a bulldozer on anyone’s property only on the basis of being accused or convicted, it is unconstitutional.
Central Vista Project
In the year 2019, the central government announced a redevelopment project to give a new identity to India’s ‘Power Corridor’. Which was also opposed a lot. On this, the Supreme Court gave its verdict saying that this project does not violate any article. The Central Vista project was approved by a bench of three judges which also included Justice BR Gavai.