BR Gavai appointed as 52nd Chief Justice of India, oath taking on May 14

President Droupadi Murmu has approved the appointment of Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI). He is scheduled to take the oath of office on May 14, 2025, succeeding Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who is set to retire on May 13, 2025.

The announcement was made by Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal via social media platform X, confirming



that the appointment was made under the powers vested by the Constitution of India. Justice Gavai, currently serving as a judge of the Supreme Court, is next in line to assume the top judicial post based on the established seniority norm.

Justice Gavai will become only the second Chief Justice of India from the Scheduled Caste community, after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, who retired in 2010.