Meet Justice BR Gavai: First Buddhist Chief Justice of India; know key verdicts delivered by him

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai on Wednesday became the 52nd Chief Justice of India, marking a moment of historic significance by becoming the first Buddhist to occupy the top post in the Indian judiciary and only the second Chief Justice from a Scheduled Caste community, following Justice KG Balakrishnan.

Administered the oath by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Justice Gavai’s elevation reflects India’s democratic journey toward inclusivity.

Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, he hails from a modest background and is the son of RS Gavai, a noted Dalit politician and former Governor.

Judicial career and landmark rulings

Justice Gavai began his legal practice in 1985 and was appointed as an additional judge of the Bombay High Court in 2003, becoming a permanent judge in 2005 and being elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.

In his six-year tenure at the apex court, Justice Gavai has been part of approximately 700 benches and has authored nearly 300 judgments, many of them dealing with constitutional law, civil and criminal cases, and human rights.

Among the most notable is his role in the abrogation of Article 370, where a five-judge constitution bench unanimously upheld the Centre's decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir's special status.

He was also part of the bench that struck down the electoral bonds scheme, marking a major intervention in the debate on political funding transparency.

Justice Gavai was involved in the constitution bench that upheld the 2016 demonetisation policy, and in another significant ruling, approved sub-classification within Scheduled Castes for the purpose of affirmative action.

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A voice for due process and civil liberties

One of Justice Gavai’s most applauded verdicts came in the form of guidelines against arbitrary demolitions, often dubbed ‘bulldozer justice’. His ruling mandated a 15-day show-cause notice before any demolition, reaffirming the right to due process.

In another ruling that stirred public discourse, Justice Gavai overturned a controversial Allahabad High Court observation that dismissed certain acts as non-sexual assault, terming the original judgment “inhuman and insensitive.”

Tenure challenges and priorities

Justice Gavai's tenure, which runs until November 23, 2025, comes at a critical time for the judiciary. With over 81,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court, judicial backlog remains a key concern. Additionally, his term will oversee litigation around the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

Days before assuming office, Justice Gavai asserted the supremacy of the Constitution and clarified he would not accept any post-retirement position, signalling a commitment to judicial integrity.

With a crucial tenure ahead, Justice Gavai carries the hopes of millions, not just as a judge, but as a voice for fairness, equity, and the rule of law.