CJI Gavai is first Buddhist to head India’s judiciary
Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: Justice BR Gavai who was administered the oath of office by President Droupadi Murmu early on May 14 as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI), is the first Buddhist to head the country’s judiciary. CJI Gavai, will have a tenure of over six months, and he will demit the highest judicial office of the country on November 23, 2025.
President Murmu, in exercise of powers under Article 124(2) of the Constitution, had appointed Justice Gavai, the senior most Judge of the Supreme Court, as Chief Justice of India, and the Ministry of Law and Justice had later notified his appointment on April 29.
Justice Gavai was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court of India on May 24, 2019. Appointed as Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003, he became a permanent Judge in November 2005.
Before elevation to the Bench, he practised in constitutional law and administrative law and acted as Standing Counsel for Municipal Corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation, and Amravati University.
He was appointed as Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor in the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench in August 1992 and served till July 1993. He was appointed as Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench on January 17, 2000.
Earlier, in an informal interaction with the media, Justice Gavai expressed sorrow over the tragic incident in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam and said that the Supreme Court cannot remain untouched when the country is mourning. Son of former Bihar Governor R.S. Gavai, Justice Gavai also took pride in the fact that he would be the first Buddhist CJI of the country.
“My father had embraced Buddhism along with Baba Saheb Ambedkar. I will become the first Buddhist Chief Justice of the country,” he said. Asserting that he believes in all religions, Justice Gavai said, “I go to temples, dargahs, Jain temples, gurudwaras everywhere.”
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