From Frezarpura to CJI: Justice Gavai sworn in as 52nd CJI today

Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai’s journey from a modest hut in Frezarpura in Maharashtra to the highest judicial office in India is a powerful narrative of perseverance, rootedness, and constitutional commitment. His early life in a working-class neighborhood shaped his understanding of inequality, an insight he brought into the courtroom.

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His belief that not all beneficiaries of reservations are equally placed inspired his 2024 opinion supporting sub-classification within the Scheduled Caste quota , a landmark ruling grounded in both law and lived reality.

Born in 1960, Justice Gavai was influenced by his father, RS Gavai, an Ambedkarite leader and former governor, and his mother Kamaltai, a school teacher who taught him the dignity of labor. Educated in a municipal school and later earning degrees in commerce and law, Gavai initially considered politics before fully embracing law. His legal career began in 1985, and he steadily rose through the ranks, serving as public prosecutor, high court judge, and ultimately, a Supreme Court justice.

Known for his empathy and firmness, he played key roles in judgments on due process, demolition laws, electoral bonds, and the abrogation of Article 370. As the 52nd Chief Justice of India, and only the second Dalit to hold the post, Justice Gavai remains grounded in humility and driven by justice.