CJI Sanjiv Khanna Retires Today; Senior Judge BR Gavai to Sworn In As Next Chief Justice of India

New Delhi, May 13: Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna will retire on Tuesday, marking the end of his tenure as the 51st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He assumed office on November 10, 2024, and retires after serving in the apex position for six months. Justice Khanna has formally recommended Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor. The recommendation was made to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice, and once accepted by President Murmu, Justice Gavai will be sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

As per judicial tradition, Justice Khanna will sit on a ceremonial bench, alongside his successor. The Supreme Court Bar Association is set to bid farewell to the outgoing Chief Justice in a formal ceremony, during which Justice Khanna is expected to deliver his farewell address. BR Gavai Appointed New CJI: President Droupadi Murmu Appoints Justice Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as Next Chief Justice of India.

Justice Gavai was elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019. At the age of 64, he is scheduled to hold the top judicial post until November 23, 2025, when he turns 65, the retirement age for Supreme Court judges.

A native of Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career on March 16, 1985. He trained under Raja S. Bhonsale, a former Advocate General and High Court judge. After 1990, he focussed his legal practice at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, with special emphasis on Constitutional and Administrative Law. BR Gavai Appointed New CJI: President Droupadi Murmu Approves Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai’s Appoinment As 52nd Chief Justice of India, To Take Oath of Office on May 14.

He has held several key public legal positions, including Assistant Government Pleader, Additional Public Prosecutor, and later Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench.

Justice Gavai’s elevation will mark a significant moment in the judiciary, not just for his experience but also as one of the few Chief Justices from a Scheduled Caste background, reflecting the growing inclusivity within the Indian judiciary.

(The above story first appeared on Pune Media on May 13, 2025 09:33 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website Pune Media.com).

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}