President Appoints BR Gavai as 52nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court

President of India Droupadi Murmu has appointed Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai (B R Gavai) as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI).  The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is referred to as the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Justice BR Gavai, who is presently the senior-most Judge in the Supreme Court, will assume his office on May 14, 2025. He will succeed Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retires on 13th May 2025.

The information about the appointment of Justice B.R. Gavai as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) was shared by Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal in a social media post on 29 April 2025.

Procedure for Appointment of the Supreme Court Chief Justice

Clause 2 of Article 124 of the Constitution grants the President of India the power to appoint the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

A procedure is followed for the appointment of the Chief Justice of India, and the Union Ministry of Law and Justice has issued a memorandum of procedure for the appointment of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and Its Judges. 

Procedure

• The senior-most Judge of the Supreme Court is appointed as the Chief Justice of India, considered fit to hold the office.
• The Union Ministry of Law and Justice requests the name of the next Chief Justice of India from the current Chief Justice of India.
• After receiving the recommendation from the CJI, the Union Law Ministry forwards the name recommended by the current CJI to the Prime Minister.
• The Prime Minister advises the President of India, and based on this advice, the President appoints the next Chief Justice of India.

Tenure of Justice BR Gavai as 52nd CJI 

• A Supreme Court Judge, including the CJI, retires at the age of 65 years. Justice Gavai will turn 65 on 23 November 2025.
• He will demit his office on 23 November 2025.

About Justice BR Gavai

• Justice BR Gavai is the second Dalit to become the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court after Justice KG Balakrishnan. 
• Justice KG Balakrishnan was the 37th Chief Justice of India and served in this role from 14 January 2007 to 12 May 2010.
• Justice B.R. Gavai began his legal career as an advocate in the Bombay High Court.
• He was appointed Additional Judge of the High Court by the President in 2003 and a permanent Judge of the High Court in  November 2005.
• The President appointed him as a Judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.

About the Supreme Court of India

The Supreme Court of India is a constitutional body set up under the provisions of Article 124 of the Constitution.

It is the apex judicial body in india

It came into existence on 28 January 1950.

Its seat is in New Delhi, but with the President of India's permission, it can sit anywhere in India.

The maximum judges in the Supreme Court is 34, including the Chief Justice of India.

First Chief Justice of India - Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania 

Longest serving CJI- 16th CJI Justice Yeshwant Vishnu Chandrachud. He served as the Chief Justice of India from 22 February 1978 to 11 July 1985.

Shortest tenure - 22nd CJI of India, Justice Kamal Narian Singh. He was in office from 25 November 1991 to 12 December 1991. (18 days)

Language Used in Supreme Court- Only English is used in the proceedings of the Supreme Court.