Justice B R Gavai Recommended as Next Chief Justice of India
New Delhi: In a significant development, the Supreme Court has recommended the name of Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI). The recommendation, in line with established convention, was made by incumbent CJI Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who is scheduled to retire on 13 May.
The Union Law Ministry had earlier initiated the appointment process by formally requesting Justice Khanna to nominate his successor. Following this, the top court sent its recommendation, naming the senior-most judge, Justice Gavai, as the next in line for the country’s highest judicial office.
If appointed, Justice Gavai will become the 51st Chief Justice of India and is expected to be sworn in on 14 May. His tenure, however, will be relatively brief, lasting only six months, as he is slated to retire in November 2025.
Justice Gavai’s elevation would also be historically notable, as he will be only the second Dalit judge to hold the post of CJI, after Justice K. G. Balakrishnan.
