Marking a significant moment in Indian judicial history, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai officially took charge as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) on Wednesday. Administered the oath of office by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Justice Gavai became the first Buddhist to ascend to the highest judicial post in the country.

A seasoned judge with over three decades of experience, Justice Gavai is expected to serve as CJI until November 23, 2025. Though his term spans just over six months, he brings a robust legacy of judicial contributions, having delivered more than 300 judgments and participated in around 700 benches.

Justice Gavai’s elevation also revives the representation of the Scheduled Caste community in the Supreme Court, a gap that lasted for nearly a decade before his appointment in 2019. His legal journey began in 1985 at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, where he practiced in constitutional and administrative law. He was appointed an Additional Judge in 2003 and became a Permanent Judge in 2005.

CJI Receives Greetings from High-Profile Dignitaries

Following the swearing-in, the new CJI was seen warmly greeting dignitaries, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah and Arjun Ram Meghwal, as well as his predecessor, Justice Sanjiv Khanna. A poignant moment occurred when Justice Gavai touched his mother’s feet, and the Prime Minister greeted her with folded hands.

Justice Gavai is known for being candid and firm in his judgments. His involvement in landmark cases includes the upholding of Article 370’s abrogation, striking down the electoral bonds scheme, and fortifying personal liberty rights in the Manish Sisodia bail judgment. He also led the bench that released Perarivalan, convicted in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Soon after the ceremony, Justice Gavai convened at the Supreme Court for a brief interaction with colleagues. A full judges’ meeting is expected to be held soon to discuss administrative matters and the direction of the judiciary under his leadership. The Court will go into partial recess in 10 days for the annual summer break, with limited benches continuing hearings.

Looking beyond Gavai’s term, the Supreme Court is set for a historic milestone. On September 27, 2027, Justice BV Nagarathna is poised to become the first woman Chief Justice of India making her appointment a landmark moment in the judiciary’s 75-year history. Though her tenure will last only 36 days, it will not be the shortest ever. That record is held by Justice Kamal Narain Singh, who served for just 17 days.

Justice Nagarathna’s appointment, if based on the seniority principle currently followed in judicial elevations, would also mark India’s second-ever father-daughter duo to serve as CJIs. Her father, Justice E.S. Venkataramiah, served as the 19th CJI in 1989.

Despite the significance of her future appointment, Justice Nagarathna’s brief tenure has reignited the debate over the need for longer terms for CJIs. Former CJI P. Sathasivam, who held the post for about nine months, had voiced concerns that short tenures prevent meaningful institutional reforms.

The issue of brief terms extends beyond the Supreme Court. Former CJI D.Y. Chandrachud’s appointment of eight High Court Chief Justices highlighted the same problem, with some of them, including Chief Justice Rajiv Shakdher, serving less than a month.

Meanwhile, women’s representation in the higher judiciary remains limited. Following Justice Hima Kohli’s retirement in 2024, only two women Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Bela M. Trivedi serve among the 34 Supreme Court judges. According to the India Justice Report 2025, only 14% of High Court judges are women, signaling slow progress unless the appointment system is reformed.

Interestingly, Justice Fathima Beevi, the first woman appointed to the Supreme Court in 1989, served only two and a half years, the shortest among women justices. In contrast, Justice Nagarathna is projected to complete six years and two months on the bench, the longest tenure for a woman in the apex court’s history.

As Justice Gavai takes on his new role, the spotlight is not just on his tenure but on broader issues of judicial reforms, representation, and the future shape of India’s top court.