Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52^nd Chief Justice of India (CJI), on 14^th May, 2025, in a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, administered by President Droupadi Murmu. He succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retires on 23^rd November, 2025.

Justice Gavai’s appointment is historically significant as he is the first Buddhist and only the second Dalit to hold the position of CJI, following Justice KG Balakrishnan. His elevation is seen as a step toward greater inclusivity within the Indian judiciary.

Born on 24^th November, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985. Appointed judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003, he was elevated to the Supreme Court in 2019. Through his tenure, he has contributed to several landmark rulings, including those on the abrogation of Article 370 and the Demonetization policy. As Chief Justice, he will oversee a judiciary grappling with over 81,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court, aiming to enhance efficiency and uphold constitutional values.