Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai became the 52nd Chief Justice of India on 14th May 2025. He is an experienced judge who has worked in the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court of India. He is the first Chief Justice from the Buddhist community and the second Dalit (Scheduled Caste) to hold this post.
B.R. Gavai – Early Life and Education
Bhushan Gavai was born on 24th November 1960 in Amravati, Maharashtra. He studied at a municipal school in Amravati, then went to Chikitsa Samudh Madhyamik Shala and Holy Name High School in Mumbai. After school, he completed degrees in commerce and law from Amravati University. In 1985, he started his legal career.
Legal Career of Bhushan Gavai
Gavai worked with Bar. Raja S. Bhonsale, a well-known lawyer and former judge. He started practicing law in the Bombay High Court from 1987 to 1990, and then at the Nagpur Bench of the High Court.
He was the legal advisor (standing counsel) for many government bodies like Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Amravati University, and others. In 1992, he became the assistant government pleader and public prosecutor at the High Court in Nagpur. In 2000, he became the government pleader and public prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench.
On 14 November 2003, Gavai became an additional judge of the Bombay High Court. Later, on 12 November 2005, he became a permanent judge. He worked there for 14 years.
B.R. Gavai as Chief Justice of India
On 24 May 2019, he was appointed as a judge of the Supreme Court of India. He served there until 13 May 2025.
On 14 May 2025, President Droupadi Murmu made him the Chief Justice of India. His term will continue until 23 November 2025.
Historical Significance
Justice Gavai made history in many ways:
- First Chief Justice from the Buddhist community.
- Second Dalit Chief Justice of India (after K.G. Balakrishnan)
- As of January 2025, the Supreme Court had 3 Scheduled Caste judges: Justice B.R. Gavai, Justice C.T. Ravikumar and Justice Prasanna Varale
It was the first time the Supreme Court had two Buddhist judges at the same time – Justice Gavai and Justice Varale.
Personal Life of B.R. Gavai
Bhushan Gavai’s parents were R.S. Gavai and Kamala. His father was a Member of Parliament (M.P.) and Governor, and also led the Republican Party of India (Gavai faction). His brother Rajendra Gavai is a politician too. The Gavai family follows Buddhism and is great inspired by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
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