Justice B.R. Gavai becomes 52nd Chief Justice of India: Full list of CJIs

Justice Gavai is the first Buddhist Chief Justice of India.

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai on Wednesday (May 14, 2025) took over as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. Justice B.R. Gavai succeeds Chief Justice Sanjeev Khanna, who superannuated on Tuesday. Gavai will serve as CJI for the next six months and retire on November 30 this year.

Since its inception in 1950, the Supreme Court of India has seen a dynamic lineage of Chief Justices who have steered the country’s highest judicial institution through the years. Each Chief Justice has left a unique mark on India’s legal and constitutional landscape, shaping the country’s justice system.

The position of Chief Justice of India is a powerful constitutional office responsible for upholding the rule of law in the country and safeguarding the rights enshrined in the Constitution.

From the first CJI, H. J. Kania, to the incumbent Justice B.R. Gavai, each jurist has contributed to the evolving narrative of Indian jurisprudence. Some, like Y.V. Chandrachud, served long tenures and delivered landmark judgments, while others had shorter stints but oversaw critical transitions.

As the judiciary faces growing scrutiny and evolving challenges in the modern era, this list serves as a timeline of continuity and change in India’s judicial leadership.

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Published - May 14, 2025 03:07 pm IST