Jai Bhim: Chief Justice BR Gavai greets lawyers after taking oath

In a moment rich with constitutional symbolism and emotional resonance, newly appointed Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai, responded to the greetings at the Supreme Court with a salutation “Jai Bhim” — a salute deeply rooted in the legacy of Dr BR Ambedkar and the Dalit rights movement.

The gesture, made just hours after he took oath at Rashtrapati Bhavan, marked a rare and powerful assertion of social justice from the highest seat of the judiciary, Bar and Bench reported.

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) today, becoming the first Buddhist and only the second judge from the Scheduled Castes to ascend to the nation’s highest judicial office.

His elevation is both historic and symbolic, representing the values of inclusivity and constitutional morality that the judiciary upholds.

Justice Gavai will serve as the Chief Justice until his retirement on November 23, 2025. As he dons the mantle of Chief Justice, all eyes will be on him — not just for the judgments he delivers, but for the legacy he shapes.

Justice Gavai has been part of several important benches that have passed crucial orders, including those condemning bulldozer actions and laying down stringent norms to curb such practices.

He was also part of the Constitution Bench that delivered landmark verdicts, including:

• Upholding the abrogation of Article 370 by the Central Government,
• Striking down the electoral bonds scheme,
• Upholding the Centre’s 2016 demonetisation move, among others.

A bench led by Justice Gavai granted bail to AAP leader Manish Sisodia in a money laundering case — a ruling that became the basis for granting bail to other accused in the same case. He also presided over the bench that stayed Rahul Gandhi’s conviction in the Modi surname defamation case, and granted regular bail to civil rights activist Teesta Atul Setalvad in a case related to the 2002 Godhra riots.

Justice BR Gavai is India’s new CJI: How judge rose from Maharashtra slum to Supreme Court’s top post

Justice Bhushan Ramakrishna Gavai has taken oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI). He was sworn in by President Droupadi Murmu at the Ganatantra Mandap in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Wednesday (May 14).

CJI Gavai has replaced Justice Sanjiv Khanna , who demitted office on Tuesday. The 64-year-old will have a tenure of more than six months, ending on November 23. Justice Gavai has created history by becoming only the second from the Dalit community to serve as the Chief Justice of India. In 2007, Justice KG Balakrishnan was the first Dalit to occupy the highest judicial office in the country.

STORY C