President appoints Justice BR Gavai as next chief justice of India

The President has appointed Justice BR Gavai as the next Chief Justice of India. Justice Gavai will take over as the 52nd chief justice of India following the retirement of incumbent CJI Sanjiv Khanna on May 13.

Earlier this month, Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna had recommended to the Centre the name of Justice BR Gavai, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, as his successor.

Justice Gavai will be the second CJI belonging to the Scheduled Caste community after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who retired as the CJI in 2010. Justice Gavai will retire on November 23 this year.


Justice Khanna was elevated to the Supreme Court from the Delhi High Court on January 18, 2019. He was appointed as the CJI on November 10, 2024.