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Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai became the 52nd CJI, bringing constitutional integrity and judicial restraint. B.R. Gavai, the first Buddhist Chief Justice of India, took office on May 14, 2025.
PWOnlyIAS
May 16, 2025
Chief Justice of India (CJI) holds the highest judicial position in the country and is the head of the judiciary and the Supreme Court Of India. As of May 14, 2025, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has accepted this prestigious role as the 52nd Chief Justice of India, succeeding Justice Sanjiv Khanna. His tenure, although brief—ending on November 23, 2025—is historic, marked by personal, legal, and symbolic significance.
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the head of the judiciary system of the country and the highest-ranking judge of the Supreme Court of India. Appointed under Article 124 of the Indian Constitution, the CJI is considered the “first among equals” in the collegium of Supreme Court judges. The Chief Justice of India oversees the court’s proceedings, manages the roster of cases, and guides the Supreme Court’s judicial policies.
The appointment is made by the President Of India traditionally based on seniority among Supreme Court judges. The CJI plays a key role in maintaining the independence and integrity of the judiciary while ensuring that the Constitution is upheld in letter and spirit.
The Chief Justice of India is entrusted with a wide range of constitutional, administrative, and judicial responsibilities that are vital for the functioning of the Indian judiciary. Here are the primary roles and duties:
India’s Supreme Court has been led by some of the most brilliant legal minds. From Justice H.J. Kania, the first CJI appointed on 26 January 1950, to Justice Gavai, the 52nd Chief Justice of India, each has contributed significantly.
For reference, here is the full Chief Justice of India List:
| Chief Justice of India List | |||
| No. | Name | Date of Appointment | Held Office Till |
| 1 | Hon’ble Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania | 26/01/1950 | 06/11/1951 |
| 2 | Hon’ble Justice M. Patanjali Sastri | 07/11/1951 | 03/01/1954 |
| 3 | Hon’ble Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan | 04/01/1954 | 22/12/1954 |
| 4 | Hon’ble Justice Bijan Kumar Mukherjea | 23/12/1954 | 31/01/1956 |
| 5 | Hon’ble Justice Sudhi Ranjan Das | 01/02/1956 | 30/09/1959 |
| 6 | Hon’ble Justice Bhuvneshwar Prasad Sinha | 01/10/1959 | 31/01/1964 |
| 7 | Hon’ble Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar | 01/02/1964 | 15/03/1966 |
| 8 | Hon’ble Justice A.K. Sarkar | 16/03/1966 | 29/06/1966 |
| 9 | Hon’ble Justice K. Subba Rao | 30/06/1966 | 11/04/1967 |
| 10 | Hon’ble Justice K.N. Wanchoo | 12/04/1967 | 24/02/1968 |
| 11 | Hon’ble Justice M. Hidayatullah | 25/02/1968 | 16/12/1970 |
| 12 | Hon’ble Justice J.C. Shah | 17/12/1970 | 21/01/1971 |
| 13 | Hon’ble Justice S.M. Sikri | 22/01/1971 | 25/04/1973 |
| 14 | Hon’ble Justice A.N. Ray | 26/04/1973 | 28/01/1977 |
| 15 | Hon’ble Justice M. Hameedullah Beg | 29/01/1977 | 21/02/1978 |
| 16 | Hon’ble Justice Y.V. Chandrachud | 22/02/1978 | 11/07/1985 |
| 17 | Hon’ble Justice P.N. Bhagwati | 12/07/1985 | 20/12/1986 |
| 18 | Hon’ble Justice R.S. Pathak | 21/12/1986 | 18/06/1989 |
| 19 | Hon’ble Justice E.S. Venkataramiah | 19/06/1989 | 17/12/1989 |
| 20 | Hon’ble Justice Sabyasachi Mukherjee | 18/12/1989 | 25/09/1990 |
| 21 | Hon’ble Justice Ranganath Misra | 25/09/1990 | 24/11/1991 |
| 22 | Hon’ble Justice K.N. Singh | 25/11/1991 | 12/12/1991 |
| 23 | Hon’ble Justice M.H. Kania | 13/12/1991 | 17/11/1992 |
| 24 | Hon’ble Justice L.M. Sharma | 18/11/1992 | 11/02/1993 |
| 25 | Hon’ble Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah | 12/02/1993 | 24/10/1994 |
| 26 | Hon’ble Justice A.M. Ahmadi | 25/10/1994 | 24/03/1997 |
| 27 | Hon’ble Justice J.S. Verma | 25/03/1997 | 17/01/1998 |
| 28 | Hon’ble Justice M.M. Punchhi | 18/01/1998 | 09/10/1998 |
| 29 | Hon’ble Dr. Justice A.S. Anand | 10/10/1998 | 31/10/2001 |
| 30 | Hon’ble Justice S.P. Bharucha | 01/11/2001 | 05/05/2002 |
| 31 | Hon’ble Justice B.N. Kirpal | 06/05/2002 | 07/11/2002 |
| 32 | Hon’ble Justice G.B. Pattanaik | 08/11/2002 | 18/12/2002 |
| 33 | Hon’ble Justice V.N. Khare | 19/12/2002 | 01/05/2004 |
| 34 | Hon’ble Justice S. Rajendra Babu | 02/05/2004 | 31/05/2004 |
| 35 | Hon’ble Justice R.C. Lahoti | 01/06/2004 | 31/10/2005 |
| 36 | Hon’ble Justice Y.K. Sabharwal | 01/11/2005 | 13/01/2007 |
| 37 | Hon’ble Justice K.G. Balakrishnan | 14/01/2007 | 12/05/2010 |
| 38 | Hon’ble Justice S.H. Kapadia | 12/05/2010 | 28/09/2012 |
| 39 | Hon’ble Justice Altamas Kabir | 29/09/2012 | 18/07/2013 |
| 40 | Hon’ble Justice P. Sathasivam | 19/07/2013 | 26/04/2014 |
| 41 | Hon’ble Justice R. M. Lodha | 27/04/2014 | 27/09/2014 |
| 42 | Hon’ble Justice H.L. Dattu | 28/09/2014 | 02/12/2015 |
| 43 | Hon’ble Justice T. S. Thakur | 03/12/2015 | 03/01/2017 |
| 44 | Hon’ble Jagdish Singh Khehar | 04/01/2017 | 27/08/2017 |
| 45 | Hon’ble Justice Dipak Misra | 28/08/2017 | 02/10/2018 |
| 46 | Hon’ble Ranjan Gogoi | 03/10/2018 | 17/11/2019 |
| 47 | Hon’ble Sharad Arvind Bobde | 18/11/2019 | 23/04/2021 |
| 48 | Hon’ble Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana | 24/04/2021 | 26/08/2022 |
| 49 | Hon’ble UU Lalit | 27/08/2022 | 08/11/2022 |
| 50 | Hon’ble DY Chandrachud | 09/11/2022 | 10/11/2024 |
| 51 | Hon’ble Justice Sanjiv Khanna | 11/11/24 | 13/05/25 |
| 52 | Hon’ble Justice B R Gavai | 14/05/25 | 23/11/2025 |
Justice B.R. Gavai, the new CJI of India, took the oath of office as the Chief Justice of India 2025 on May 14. He is not only a seasoned jurist but also a symbol of India’s inclusive judiciary, being the first Buddhist to hold this office. His appointment is seen as a significant step in bringing greater social diversity to India’s judicial leadership.
Born on 24th November 1960 in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai’s legal career began in 1985. He practised law primarily at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, handling constitutional and administrative law matters. His early roles included Assistant Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor, showcasing a consistent commitment to public service.
Despite repeated Collegium recommendations since 2001, he was appointed an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court only in 2003, became a Permanent Judge in 2005, and was promoted to the Supreme Court of India on 24 May 2019.
Over a span of six years, he has served on around 700 Benches and authored approximately 300 judgments, including key constitutional and human rights decisions.
The current Chief Justice of India 2025, has been a part of several landmark rulings:
Justice Gavai is known for judicial restraint and adherence to constitutional boundaries, often warning against judicial overreach into legislative and executive domains.
As the Chief Justice of India 2025, Justice Gavai will serve a tenure of nearly six months, retiring on 23rd November 2025. Despite its brevity, his term is balanced to witness significant developments, including deliberations on the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, and crucial Collegium recommendations.
His judicial philosophy is characterised by a preference for judicial restraint, a contrast to more activist approaches. While he is known for his adherence to constitutional principles, he has not shied away from expressing strong views, as evidenced by his intervention during the Pahalgam massacre, where he called for a two-minute silence in solidarity.
As Chief Justice of India, Justice Gavai heads the Supreme Court Collegium, responsible for appointments to the higher judiciary. His term coincides with the retirements of three senior justices, presenting him with the opportunity to enhance gender and social diversity.
Currently, there is only one woman Chief Justice among India’s 25 High Courts—Justice Sunita Agarwal of Gujarat. The Supreme Court too faces a possible drop to only one woman judge after the retirement of Justice Bela Trivedi in June 2025.
Justice Gavai’s leadership style differs from that of his predecessor, CJI Sanjiv Khanna, who maintained a low public profile. Gavai has shown a more publicly engaged demeanour, organising a two-minute silence at the Supreme Court to mourn the victims of the Pahalgam massacre, even in the absence of CJI Khanna.
As the Chief Justice of India 2025, Justice Gavai begins his term with a few pressing concerns:
As the new Chief Judge of India, Justice BR Gavai has a tight timeline and immense responsibility. He must guide the Supreme Court through pressing legal challenges, high-profile cases, and demands for judicial reform. With his deep legal acumen, commitment to the Constitution, and personal background rooted in India’s social justice movement, Justice Gavai brings a fresh yet grounded perspective.
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