Justice BR Gavai recommended as next CJI

On Wednesday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna recommended Justice BR Gavai as his successor, forwarding his name to the Union Law Ministry. With this move, Justice Gavai is now set to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India and is expected to take over on May 14, 2025. He will serve a six-month tenure until his retirement on November 23, 2025. 

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Justice Sanjiv Khanna himself had a brief tenure of six months as the CJI. His recommendation follows the established seniority principle, making Justice Gavai next in line for the top judicial post. 

Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985 after enrolling as an advocate. He initially trained under the late Raja S Bhonsale, a former Advocate General and High Court Judge. From 1987 to 1990, he practiced independently at the Bombay High Court before focusing on the Nagpur Bench. His practice areas included Constitutional and Administrative Law, and he represented various civic bodies such as the Nagpur and Amravati Municipal Corporations. 

He was appointed an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003 and became a permanent judge in 2005. Throughout his career, he presided over matters in Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji. On May 24, 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India. 

Justice Gavai’s appointment will be a significant moment for the judiciary, as he will be among the few Chief Justices from a Scheduled Caste background.