Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is set to take over as the 51st Chief Justice of India on May 14, succeeding the current Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retires a day earlier. Following judicial tradition, Chief Justice Khanna formally recommended Justice Gavai’s name to the Union Law Ministry, which is expected to process the appointment swiftly. Justice Gavai will serve a tenure of nearly six months, retiring in November 2025. His appointment marks a significant milestone, as he becomes only the second Dalit to hold the post, after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, who led the judiciary from 2007 to 2010.

Born in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal journey in 1985 under the mentorship of barrister Raja Bhonsale, a former Advocate General and High Court judge. He built a distinguished legal career, practicing at the Bombay High Court and its Nagpur Bench, specializing in constitutional and administrative law. Over the years, he held various legal positions including Assistant Government Pleader, Additional Public Prosecutor, and later, Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench. His elevation to the judiciary began in 2003 as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court, later becoming a permanent judge in 2005. He joined the Supreme Court in 2019.

During his tenure on the Supreme Court bench, Justice Gavai has been part of numerous landmark verdicts that have shaped Indian jurisprudence. Notably, he was involved in the ruling that upheld the government’s controversial 2016 demonetisation policy and was part of the historic judgment that struck down the electoral bonds scheme, citing concerns over transparency in political funding. As he steps into the role of Chief Justice, expectations are high for his leadership in strengthening judicial accountability, expediting pending cases, and ensuring equitable access to justice across the country.