Justice BR Gawai will take over as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. He will take oath of this post on 14 May, which will be awarded by President Draupadi Murmu. The current Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna will retire on 13 May, and the next day Justice Gawai will start discharging his responsibilities. CJI Justice Sanjeev Khanna took over in November 2024.
According to tradition, the Chief Justice has sent a proposal to the Union Law Ministry, nominating Justice Gawai as his successor. The Ministry had earlier demanded the name of his successor from the Chief Justice. Justice Gavai will act as the Chief Justice of India for about six months, as he is scheduled to retire in November. He will be the second Dalit judge to hold the post of Chief Justice after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who was promoted to this highest judicial post in 2007.
Chief Justice of India will remain for 6 months
Justice Gawai will act as the Chief Justice of India for about six months, as his retirement is scheduled in November. He is the second Dalit judge to hold the post of Chief Justice after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who was appointed to this prestigious post in 2007.
Who is Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai?
Gawai, belonging to Amravati in Maharashtra, started his career as a lawyer in 1985 and worked with former Maharashtra High Court Advocate General and Judge Barister Raja Bhonsle. Subsequently, he independently advocated in the Bombay High Court from 1987 to 1990. After this, he practiced mainly in Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court in matters related to constitutional and administrative law.
In August 1992, he was appointed as Assistant Public Prosecutor and Additional Public Prosecutor in the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court. In 2000, he was nominated as a government prosecutor and public prosecutor for Nagpur Peeth.
Justice Gawai became Additional Judge of the High Court in 2003 and was appointed as a permanent judge in 2005. In 2019, he received promotion to the post of Supreme Court Judge.