New Delhi : Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai took over as the Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Wednesday. He was sworn in by President Draupadi Murmu. CJI BR Gavai accepted the greetings of the President as well as Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, former President Ram Nath Kovind and other dignitaries at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Gavai replaced Justice Sanjeev Khanna, who retired just yesterday. Earlier on the 30th of last month, the Law Ministry had issued a notification appointing Justice Gavai as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. On April 16, CJI Khanna had recommended his name to the Central Government.
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today, attended the swearing-in ceremony of Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India. The Prime Minister congratulated him through a post on X: “Attended the swearing in ceremony of Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India. Wishing him the very best for his tenure.”
Justice Gavai will hold the post of CJI for more than 6 months, he will turn 65 in November. He was administered the oath by President Draupadi Murmu in a brief ceremony at the Republic Pavilion of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Gavai took the oath in Hindi. Justice Sanjiv Khanna’s term as CJI ended on Tuesday (May 13, 2025).
Justice Gavai was promoted as a Supreme Court judge on May 24, 2019. His tenure will be more than six months and he will hold the post till November 23. Born on November 24, 1960 in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai was promoted as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003. He became a permanent judge of the High Court on November 12, 2005.
Justice Gavai has been a part of several constitutional benches in the Supreme Court, which have given important decisions. He joined the bar on March 16, 1985 and was standing counsel for Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Amravati Municipal Corporation and Amravati University. Justice Gavai was appointed Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Government Prosecutor in the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court from August 1992 to July 1993. He was appointed as the Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench on January 17, 2000.