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Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Justice BR Gavai takes charge as 52nd Chief Justice of India
Justice BR Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Wednesday morning in a ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to the new CJI. Justice Gavai becomes the first Buddhist and only the second CJI belonging to the Dalit community after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who retired as CJI in 2010. Justice Gavai will serve as CJI until his retirement on November 23, 2025. Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai hails from a family deeply rooted in Ambedkar's principles. His father, RS Gavai, was a prominent leader of the Republican Party of India and served as the Governor of Bihar, Sikkim, and Kerala. Continue to video 5 5 Next Stay Playback speed 1x Normal Back 0.25x 0.5x 1x Normal 1.5x 2x 5 5 / Skip Ads by by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play this game for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it Undo A bench, headed by the new CJI, on Thursday will take up petitions challenging the recently passed Waqf (Amendment) Act. Live Events
New Indian Express
14-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Article 370, rape, demonetisation, bulldozer justice: CJI Justice Gavai has delivered many a landmark verdict
NEW DELHI: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, India's 52nd chief justice and its first Buddhist one, has played a key role in shaping the judicial landscape, penning about 300 verdicts, including landmark rulings on constitutional issues, liberty, and perhaps most importantly against the executive's "bulldozer justice." Justice Gavai, the second Dalit after K G Balakrishnan to head the Indian judiciary, was sworn in by President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday for a six-month tenure ending November 23, 2025. Rising from humble beginnings to the highest judicial office of the land, Justice Gavai belongs to a village in Maharashtra's Amravati district. Born on November 24, 1960, the Amaravati born is the son of R S Gavai, a career politician, who started the Republican Party of India (Gavai). As the CJI, Justice Gavai will have to deal with issues such as the huge pendency of cases, including over 81,000 cases in the Supreme Court, to vacancies in courts. On the judicial side, he will deal with the contentious issue related to the challenge to the validity of much debated Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. Days before being sworn in as the CJI, Justice Gavai told journalists in an informal chat with journalists at his residence here that the Constitution is supreme. He also made it clear he would not take any post-retirement assignments.
Hindustan Times
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Justice BR Gavai's swearing-in ceremony: Next CJI's mother credits ‘hard work, determination' for success
On the eve of Justice Bhushan Gavai's swearing-in ceremony as the 52nd Chief Justice of India, his mother, Kamaltai Gavai, said his journey was a testament to sheer hard work and determination and a lifelong commitment to social justice. Speaking to reporters, Kamaltai said her son's rise to the country's highest judicial position was the reward he earned by serving the poor and needy and a result of his perseverance and a strong moral compass. "I would give the credit for his success and the top position he has reached to his hard work and determination," she said, adding that her son does a lot of social work and charity. Also Read | Justice BR Gavai: India's 52nd CJI shaped by life, legal experience "He lends a helping hand to a lot of needy people in terms of providing financial help and bearing their hospital expenses. I think he got a reward in return for his service to the poor and needy," Justice Gavai's proud mother said. Justice Gavai, who took over from CJI Sanjiv Khanna on Wednesday, is the son of the late RS Gavai, a former Governor of Bihar, Kerala, and Sikkim, and a veteran leader of the Republican Party of India (Gavai faction). Reflecting on her son's journey, Kamaltai recalled how he studied in a regular local school in Amravati and overcame many early hardships. "As a mother, I wanted and expected my children to follow their father's footsteps and serve society, treat people with respect and give justice to them irrespective of their stature," she told PTI. Also Read | Only 1/3rd of India's Supreme Court judges have been first-generation lawyers On being asked what work she expects from his son after he becomes the CJI, Kamaltai said, "I feel that as Chief Justice, his work will support the country and his decisions will be people-oriented," she said. Justice Gavai's younger sister, Kirti Arjun, also shared her joy and pride. 'A son of Amravati from an ordinary background has reached the highest level in the judiciary — it's a proud moment for our family, our city, and the entire state of Maharashtra,' she said. Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985. He initially worked with the late Raja S Bhonsale, former Advocate General and High Court Judge, before starting independent practice at the Bombay High Court in 1987. Also Read | Public trust in judiciary needs to be earned: CJI Justice Gavai has been a part of several Constitution benches in the apex court, which delivered path-breaking verdicts. He was part of a five-judge Constitution bench which, in December 2023, unanimously upheld the Centre's decision to abrogate provisions of Article 370, bestowing special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir. With PTI inputs
NDTV
13-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"One Day You Will Be Chief Justice, But...": What Justice BR Gavai's Father Had Said
NEW DELHI: Supreme Court's Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai will take oath as the next Chief Justice of India later today. He steps into the shoes of Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retired the same day. Very few people know that the Chief Justice designate wanted to become an architect. But he became a lawyer to fulfil his father's wish, said sources close to him. Justice Gavai's father Ramakrishna Suryabhan Gavai was a social person. He was a well-known Ambedkarite leader and founder of the Republican Party of India. His followers and admirers fondly called him Dadasaheb. Sources said RS Gavai wanted to become a lawyer and took admission in law school. But he could not study after the second year due to his work in the social sector. Justice Gavai wanted to become an architect. But his father told him to fulfil his dream of dream of becoming a lawyer. Then he took a law degree from Nagpur University and started practicing on March 16, 1985. Later, Bombay High Court's Chief Justice CK Thakkar sought his consent to recommend his name for appointment as a High Court judge. He was not interested. But he consulted his MP father, who told him to accept the offer. "You will contribute more to the society. One day you will become the Chief Justice of India. But I won't be there to see that day," his father had apparently told him. Justice Gavai's father died in 2015 - long before he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court. Justice Gavai had started his education at the municipal primary school in Amravati and later shifted to the Chikitsa Samuh Madhyamik Shala in Mumbai when his father became the Deputy Chairman of the Maharashtra Legislative Council. His brother and sister were students at a convent school and his mother, Kamaltai, felt Justice Bhushan, studying in a Marathi medium school, would lag behind in English. She was the one who insisted on enrolling him at Colaba's Holy Name High School, from where he completed high school. After starting his career as a lawyer, Justice Gavai practiced independently at the Bombay High Court. After 1990, he practised in Nagpur. Senior lawyer and MP Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi said Justice Gavai is "one of the most pragmatic and result-oriented judges I have seen". "Very pleasant court ambiance, very firm grip on proceedings, great sense of humour, avoids 'Operation successful patient died' paradigms as far as possible and knows his law thoroughly... I wish he had a longer tenure," he added. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said, "Justice Gavai is humility personified. Brilliant but humble. Holding the high constitutional office but grounded... He is intellectually independent and impartial to the core... He has an immense contribution in our jurisprudence in form of landmark judgments delivered in all branches of law". "He is unpretentious and unassuming despite being one of the finest judges the country had so far. His legal acumen is without any pompous display. He has been carrying forward the true legacy of Dr Ambedkar... The nation is proud of having him as a judge and as the next Chief Justice of India," he added.
Indian Express
12-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Meet R S Gavai, father of CJI-designate B R Gavai, the Ambedkarite leader who was Lok Sabha MP and Governor of Kerala and Bihar
When Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai takes oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on May 14, he will become only the second Dalit in the history of the republic to rise to the very top of the Indian judiciary. Justice Gavai has often spoken of the greatness of the Constitution of India that enabled his destiny. 'It is solely due to Dr B R Ambedkar's efforts that someone like me, who studied in a semi-slum area at a municipal school, could attain this position,' he said last year in a speech that he ended with the slogan 'Jai Bhim'. Justice Gavai's family has also been associated with the Congress party. He has acknowledged this openly, and in July 2023, he offered to recuse from a case involving Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. 'There is some difficulty on my part,' Justice Gavai said as he offered to withdraw from hearing Rahul Gandhi's challenge to a decision by the Gujarat High Court to not stay his conviction in a case of criminal defamation. 'My father was associated… Though he was not a Congress member, but he was associated with Congress and very closely…,' Justice Gavai said. 'He was associated with Congress for more than 40 years. He had been a Member of Parliament, Member of Legislature, with support of the Congress and… And my brother is still in politics and is associated with Congress.' 'So in this background', he told the parties in the case, 'you have to take a call whether I should take up the matter or not.' Justice Gavai is the son of Ramkrishna Suryabhan Gavai (1929-2015), who was a close associate of Babasaheb Ambedkar, and chairman of the Deekshabhoomi Smarak Samiti in Nagpur. The senior Gavai, 'Dadasaheb' to his followers and admirers, was active in Maharashtra politics from 1964 to 1998, and founded the Ambedkarite outfit, the Republican Party of India (Gavai). In 1998, Gavai Sr was elected to Lok Sabha from Amravati constituency as a candidate of the RPI. He subsequently served as Governor of Bihar, Sikkim, and Kerala between 2006 and 2011, when the Congress-led UPA was in power at the Centre. In 2009, as Governor of Kerala, Gavai Sr went against the recommendation of the state cabinet led by then Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan and permitted the Central Bureau of Investigation to initiate prosecution proceedings against the current Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, in the SNC-Lavalin case, which was related to alleged corruption in a contract to modernise hydropower infrastructure in the state. The Governor's decision was backed by the Congress-led central government in court. The Congress-led UDF was then in opposition in Kerala. And who is the brother that Justice Gavai referred to? Justice Gavai's brother is Dr Rajendra Gavai who, in 2009, joined hands briefly with Ramdas Athawale, the president of the Republican Party of India (A) as an effort was made to bring together the various factions of the original RPI. However, differences between the leaders resulted in a split, and the Gavai-led faction had a pre-poll alliance with the Congress, while the Athawale-led group aligned with the BJP. The RPI(A) is part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), and Athawale is now the Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment. This is a revised and updated version of an explainer that was first published on July 21, 2023.
