Who is Justice BR Gavai? Know qualification, service history, notable judgments & more about India¡¯s next CJ

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, a seasoned jurist with nearly four decades in the legal field, is set to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on May 14, 2025. His tenure will last until his retirement on November 23, 2025. The current CJI, Sanjiv Khanna, recommended Gavai as his successor on 16th April, 2025. BR will be the second individual from the Scheduled Caste community to hold this esteemed position, following Justice K.G. Balakrishnan.

Early Life and Education

Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai hails from a family deeply rooted in social activism. His father, R.S. Gavai, was a prominent leader of the Republican Party of India and served as the Governor of Bihar, Sikkim, and Kerala. Justice Gavai pursued his Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws (B.A.LL.B.) from Nagpur University, laying the foundation for his legal career.

Legal Career

Justice enrolled as an advocate on March 16, 1985, and began practising at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court. He served as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor from August 1992 to July 1993, and later as Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor in 2000.

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai | Credits: PTI

Justice Gavai was appointed as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court on November 14, 2003, and became a Permanent Judge on November 12, 2005. After 16 years of service, he was elevated to the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019.

Notable Judgments

Throughout his tenure, Justice Gavai has been part of several significant judgments:

• Demonetisation Verdict (2023): He was part of the majority opinion upholding the Centre's 2016 demonetisation scheme
• Article 370 Verdict: He was a member of the five-judge bench that delivered the verdict on the abrogation of Article 370.
• Prashant Bhushan Contempt Case: He was involved in the proceedings concerning contempt charges against advocate Prashant Bhushan.

Administrative Roles

Justice Gavai serves as the Chancellor of Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur, and is the Executive Chairman of the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), contributing to legal education and access to justice.

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