B R Gavai takes oath as 52nd Chief Justice of India

New Delhi: Justice B R Gavai on Wednesday was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

He was administered the oath of office by President Droupadi Murmu in a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan here.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, outgoing CJI Sanjiv Khanna, and other dignitaries including sitting and former judges of the Supreme Court and family members of Justice Gavai, -- his wife, and mother -- were present on the occasion.

Justice Gavai, who was elevated as a judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, is due to retire on November 23, 2025.

He assumed the charge as the 52nd CJI. Justice Gavai took oath in Hindi. He touched the feet of his mother immediately after the ceremony.

Justice Gavai is son of R S Gavai, a noted politician, who was the Governor of multiple states. 

He is second judge after former CJI K G Balakrishnan to reach the top position in judiciary from the Scheduled Caste community. Justice Gavai said he is the follower of the Buddhism faith.

Born on November 24, 1960 at Amravati, Justice Gavai joined the Bar on March 16, 1985 after completing his BA LLB degree from Nagpur University.

A brief stint with late Barrister Raja S Bhonsale, former Advocate General of Maharashtra and judge of Bombay High Court, till 1987, laid the foundation for his legal career.

He practised independently at Bombay High Court from 1987 to 1990. After 1990, he practised mainly before Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court in Constitutional Law and Administrative Law.

Justice Gavai was elevated as Additional Judge of the High Court on November 14, 2003. He became a permanent Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 12, 2005.

During his tenure as HC judge, he presided over benches having all types of assignments at the Principal Seat at Mumbai as well as Benches at Nagpur, Aurangabad and Panaji.

Justice Gavai has been part of several constitutional bench decisions, including on demonetisation, Article 370, Electoral Bond Scheme and Sub Classification within SC/ST categories wherein he strongly advocated for introducing creamy layer among the SC/STs.