Mumbai: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai (64), the senior most judge of the Supreme Court, will take oath as the next Chief Justice of India on May 14. His name was recommended to the law ministry by CJI Sanjiv Khanna. A former judge of Bombay high court, he will be the 52nd CJI and will continue in office till his retirement on November 23, 2025.
Son of prominent Dalit leader R.S. Gavai, he was a judge of Bombay high court from November 14, 2003 to May 23, 2019 and was elevated to the apex court on May 24, 2019.
Said Armin Wandrewala, a prominent lawyer: “The Bombay high court has a long and proud tradition which will be continued when Justice Gavai takes charge as the CJI. It was a pleasure appearing before him in the high court. He is a tough, intelligent and no nonsense judge with a sense of justice and humour.” Advocate Gunaratan Sadavarte welcomed the appointment, but said apart from seniority other factors like track record as a judge should also be considered.
Justice Gavai was born on November 24, 1960 in Amravati in Vidarbha region of Maharashtra, where he commence his legal practice. He worked in the chamber of the late Raja S Bhonsale, former Advocate General and High Court Judge, before starting his independent practice in 1987 at Bombay High Court.
Many of his former colleagues remember him as a sharp and well learned advocate who had a passion for justice. His brother Rajendra is an active Dalit leader of Maharashtra while his father R.S. Gavai was the chairman of the state legislative council.
In August 1992, he was appointed assistant government pleader and additional public prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court. Later he was appointed government pleader and public prosecutor in 2000.
He was a part of several Constitution benches in the SC which delivered path-breaking verdicts including the ones relating to the scrapping of Article 370, demonetisation and electoral bond scheme.