New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesay (May 14) administered the oath of office to Justice BR Gavai as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) at a ceremony held in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Justice Gavai, who is the first Buddhist CJI, has succeeded Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retired as the CJI on May 13, and his terms will end on November 23 on attaining the age of 65 years.
Centre on April 29 issued a notification announcing appointment of Justice Gavai as next CJI
The law ministry on April 29 issued a notification announcing appointment of Justice Gavai as 52nd chief justice of India.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (2) of Article 124 of the Constitution of India, the President is pleased to appoint Shri Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Judge of the Supreme Court, to be the Chief Justice of India with effect from 14th May, 2025,” the notification issued by the Centre said.
Justice Gavai would have a tenure of six months
Justice Gavai will have a tenure of six months and he would demit office on November 23 on attaining the age of 65 years.
The name of Justice Gavai was recommended by outgoing CJI Khanna on April 16 to the Centre as per laid down procedure.
Justice Gavai is the second-ever CJI from the Dalit community
Justice Gavai is the second-ever CJI from the Dalit community after Justice KG Balakrishnan.
Justice Gavai, who was born on November 24, 1960 at Amravati, was appointed as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003 and became a permanent judge in 2005. He was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.
Justice Gavai has been a part of several Constitution benches in the apex court which delivered path-breaking verdicts. In one of the verdicts by a bench headed by Justice Gawai laid down pan-India guidelines on demolition of properties and said no property should be demolished without a prior showcause notice and the affected person must be given 15 days to respond.
