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Indian Express
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Justice Gavai represents a new chapter in Indian social democracy
India witnessed a historic and transformative moment in its democratic journey as Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, a proud Ambedkarite Buddhist and only the second Dalit in Indian history, took oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI). This event is not merely a milestone for judicial leadership but a powerful symbol of social inclusion and representation. Significantly, Justice Gavai's swearing-in came just days after Buddha Purnima, adding spiritual resonance to an already iconic moment. Representation that empowers Justice Gavai's journey, from Nagpur — near Babasaheb Ambedkar's Chaityabhoomi — to the pinnacle of the Indian judiciary, is a lesson in grit, intellect, and conviction. Practicing law at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, serving as the government pleader and public prosecutor for the state of Maharashtra, becoming a permanent judge of the Bombay High Court, and then being elevated to the Supreme Court, his legal career reflects a quiet revolution in representation — where caste identity is not a limitation but a source of strength and clarity. In his recent initiative, when the Chief Justice was unavailable, Justice Gavai led the Supreme Court in observing a two-minute silence to pay homage to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. His moving statement, 'The Supreme Court cannot be aloof when the country is in danger,' reflects a rare blend of judicial dignity and patriotic commitment. An era of inclusive optics and outcomes Today, India is not only led by a Prime Minister who belongs to Other Backward Classes (OBC) but also boasts its first tribal woman President, Droupadi Murmu, who, as the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, oversaw Operation Sindoor. Her tribal identity delivers a significant message: The Indian state is now being shaped by hands once held back by history. Similarly, the appointment of Arjun Ram Meghwal as India's first Dalit Law Minister since Ambedkar re-emphasises the government's consistent effort at inclusive empowerment. These are not token positions; they are levers of systemic transformation. From assertion to empowerment India's social democracy, envisioned by Ambedkar as the fusion of liberty, equality, and fraternity, is witnessing a new phase. We are moving beyond Dalit assertion to Dalit-led empowerment, where members of historically marginalised communities are not just resisting exclusion but are writing the scripts of national progress. In the words of Ambedkar: 'We are going to enter a life of contradictions. In politics, we will have equality, but in social and economic life, we will have inequality. We must remove this contradiction at the earliest possible moment.' The appointment of Justice Gavai is a step in that very direction. A new social contract In the Indian context, culture has always been more than performance. It is about who leads, who decides, and who represents. The oath-taking of a Buddhist CJI — the first in India's judicial history — is also a defining moment in our civilisational story. Dalit literature must now evolve from being a space of recording angst and exclusion to becoming a space that narrates powerful journeys of resilience and rise. Justice Gavai's life is an ideal template, where knowledge, legal acumen, and spiritual grounding in Buddhism have come together to inspire a generation. The decision of the NDA government to include caste enumeration in the upcoming Census, combined with the increasing presence of subaltern communities in top constitutional posts, indicates a structural reordering of Indian democracy — a maturing of our republic. The optics, symbolism, and substance of these moments — a tribal President, a Dalit CJI and an OBC Prime Minister — are more than mere coincidence. They reflect a conscious national project of embracing equity, promoting representation, and pursuing social justice as a belief. As we enter the 78th year of Independence, these moments are not just history in the making — they are the soul of the Constitution in action. A society once divided is now seeking cohesion through resolve, representation, and dignity — the very principles Ambedkar envisioned in the making of India. The writer is national spokesperson of the BJP
NDTV
14-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Chief Justice BR Gavai Is India's First Buddhist To Head Country's Judiciary
New Delhi: Justice B.R. Gavai who was administered the oath of office by President Droupadi Murmu early on Wednesday as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI), is the first Buddhist to head the country's judiciary. CJI Gavai, will have a tenure of over six months, and he will demit the highest judicial office of the country on November 23, 2025. President Murmu, in exercise of powers under Article 124(2) of the Constitution, had appointed Justice Gavai, the senior most Judge of the Supreme Court, as Chief Justice of India, and the Ministry of Law and Justice had later notified his appointment on April 29. Justice Gavai was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019. Appointed as Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003, he became a permanent Judge in November 2005. Before elevation to the Bench, he practised in constitutional law and administrative law and acted as Standing Counsel for Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University. He was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor in the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench in August 1992 and served till July 1993. He was appointed as Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench on January 17, 2000. Earlier, in an informal interaction with the media, Justice Gavai expressed sorrow over the tragic incident in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam and said that the Supreme Court cannot remain untouched when the country is mourning. Son of former Bihar Governor R.S. Gavai, Justice Gavai also took pride in the fact that he would be the first Buddhist CJI of the country. "My father had embraced Buddhism along with Baba Saheb Ambedkar. I will become the first Buddhist Chief Justice of the country," he said. Asserting that he believes in all religions, Justice Gavai said, "I go to temples, dargahs, Jain temples, gurudwaras everywhere." In the Supreme court, Justice Gavai, a part of the 7-judge Constitution Bench dealing with the question of whether a sub-classification among reserved category groups for giving more beneficial treatment would be permissible under the Constitution, suggested the application of the "creamy layer" principle to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) for availing benefits of affirmative action. In his detailed opinion, Justice Gavai said: "When the 9-Judge Bench in Indra Sawhney held that applicability of such a test (creamy layer test) insofar as Other Backward Classes are concerned would advance equality as enshrined in the Constitution, then why such a test should not also be made applicable to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes." "Can a child of IAS/IPS or Civil Service officers be equated with a child of a disadvantaged member belonging to Scheduled Castes, studying in a Gram Panchayat/Zilla Parishad school in a village?" he asked. Justice Gavai said putting the children of the parents from the SCs and STs who, on account of the benefit of reservation, have reached a high position and ceased to be socially, economically and educationally backward and the children of parents doing manual work in the villages in the same category would defeat the constitutional mandate.
India Gazette
14-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Rajasthan: Former CM Ashok Gehlot congratulates Justice B R Gavai on CJI oath
Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], May 14 (ANI): Rajasthan's former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Wednesday congratulated Justice B R Gavai on being sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. He expressed confidence that Justice Gavai's tenure will be highly successful and extended his best wishes for the role. In a post on X, Gehlot wrote,' Hearty congratulations and best wishes to Justice Shri B R Gavai on taking oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of the country. I am confident that his tenure will be very successful.' Earlier today, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI), with President Droupadi Murmu administering the oath of office at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Notably, Justice Gavai is the first Buddhist to hold this esteemed position. The event was attended by prominent dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, and several other Union Cabinet ministers. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and former President of India Ram Nath Kovind also remain present in the oath ceremony Justice Gavai succeeds former CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who retired a day earlier, paving the way for his successor. His tenure as Chief Justice of India is expected to last for approximately six months. The swearing-in ceremony witnessed the presence of distinguished legal and political personalities, including sitting Supreme Court and High Court judges, retired Chief Justices, and former Supreme Court judges. Several leading legal experts, government officials, and political figures also attended the event. Justice Gavai is the second Chief Justice of India from the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, following Justice K. G. Balakrishnan, who served between 2007 and 2010. On April 20, 2025, then-Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna formally recommended Justice Gavai as his successor, forwarding the proposal to the Ministry of Law as part of the appointment process. Justice Gavai's tenure as Chief Justice will conclude with his retirement in November 2025. Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, he enrolled at the Bar on March 16, 1985, and initially worked under the late Raja S. Bhonsale, former Advocate General and Judge of the High Court, until 1987. In August 1992, he was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, a role he held until July 1993. He was later designated as Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench in January 2000. Justice Gavai was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003, before securing a permanent position on November 12, 2005. Throughout his tenure, he presided over a diverse range of cases at Mumbai's principal seat as well as benches in Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji. On May 24, 2019, he was appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India. His judicial career is set to conclude with his retirement on November 23, 2025. (ANI)
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Justice BR Gavai takes oath as 52nd Chief Justice of India
Justice BR gavai NEW DELHI: Justice BR Gavai took the oath as India's 52nd Chief Justice of India ( CJI ) on Wednesday, becoming the first Buddhist to lead the nation's judicial system . President Droupadi Murmu conducted the swearing-in ceremony for Justice Gavai, who has assumed the role following the retirement of CJI Sanjiv Khanna . Justice Khanna retired on Tuesday as the 51st CJI after having held the top judgeship since November 11, 2024. He was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on January 18, 2019. Who is Justice BR Gavai Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Justice B R Gavai is set to take oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May began his legal career on March 16, 1985, and worked with the late Bar. Raja S. Bhonsale, former Advocate General and High Court Judge, until 1987. From 1987 to 1990, he established an independent practice at the Bombay high court. Subsequently, he primarily practised at the Nagpur Bench of Bombay high court. His expertise centred on Constitutional and Administrative served as Standing Counsel for various institutions including the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation and Amravati University. He regularly represented various autonomous organisations and corporations, including SICOM, DCVL, and numerous Municipal Councils across the Vidarbha served as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Bombay High Court's Nagpur Bench from August, 1992 to July, 1993. On January 17, 2000, he was appointed Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench. His elevation to Additional Judge of the High Court occurred on November 14, 2003. He was confirmed as a permanent Judge of the Bombay high court on November 12, 2005. He presided over various types of cases at the Principal Seat in Mumbai and at benches in Nagpur, Aurangabad and Panaji. Justice Gavai has presided over a wide range of cases at the Principal Bench in Mumbai, as well as at the benches in Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji. His appointment as Supreme Court Judge took place on May 24, 2019.
India Today
14-05-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Justice BR Gavai to take oath as Chief Justice today, first Buddhist in the role
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai will take oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) today, becoming the first Buddhist CJI and only the second judge from the Scheduled Castes to ascend to the nation's highest judicial elevation is both historic and symbolic, representing the values of inclusivity and constitutional morality that the judiciary Gavai will serve as the CJI until his retirement on November 23, 2025. As he dons the mantle of CJI, all eyes will be on him — not just for the judgments he delivers, but for the legacy he Justice Gavai has been part of several important benches that have passed crucial orders, including those condemning bulldozer actions and laying down stringent norms to curb such was also part of the Constitution Bench that delivered landmark verdicts, including:Upholding the abrogation of Article 370 by the Central Government,Striking down the electoral bonds scheme,Upholding the Centre's 2016 demonetisation move, among others.A bench led by Justice Gavai granted bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case — a ruling that became the basis for granting bail to other accused in the same case. He also presided over the bench that stayed Rahul Gandhi's conviction in the Modi surname defamation case, and granted regular bail to civil rights activist Teesta Atul Setalvad in a case related to the 2002 Godhra MORE ABOUT JUSTICE GAVAIadvertisementJustice Gavai was born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati and joined the Bar on March 16, practiced independently at the Bombay High Court from 1987 to 1990, after which he primarily appeared before the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High served as Standing Counsel for the Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University. He also worked as an Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court from August 1992 to July 1993. Later, he was appointed Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench on January 17, Gavai was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003, and became a permanent judge on November 12, 2005. He presided over benches dealing with all types of assignments at the Principal Seat in Mumbai and at the Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on May 24, to the Supreme Court's website, in the last six years, Justice Gavai has been part of around 700 benches dealing with a wide range of matters, including constitutional and administrative law, civil law, criminal law, commercial disputes, arbitration, electricity, education, and environmental has authored around 300 judgments, including Constitution Bench verdicts, upholding the rule of law and safeguarding the fundamental, human, and legal rights of citizens.
