Congratulations to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai: First Buddhist & Second Scheduled Caste (SC) CJI

Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, popularly known as BR Gavai, took oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. Justice Gavai was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019.  He took oath on May 14, 2025, and is the first Buddhist (by faith) to lead the nation’s judicial system in the coveted post. He is the Second Scheduled Caste (SC) after K. G. Balakrishnan to head the Indian judiciary. As an Indian and senior citizen, I am proud of him when I observed on TV channels that he touched his mother’s feet to take her blessings, which indicates his value and high character. Notably, our most significant strength is our democracy because of our Constitution, which was formulated under the leadership of Dr Ambedkar Sab. I wish to mention here at the same time that India and Pakistan gained independence in 1947, but Pakistan had a fragile democracy, so from time to time, it experienced army rule, and in 1971, Bangladesh was created.

On the other hand, India is a pluralistic society with different religions, cultures, languages, castes, etc.; people live amicably. Even Chinese, Europeans, and many Muslims praised India because of its diversity, as I was in many countries as a resource person. I wish to add a few lines about Justice Gavai (source: http://www.news18.com/, Mahima Joshi ). He was born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra. He enrolled as a lawyer on March 16, 1985, and worked with the late Raja S Bhonsale, former Advocate General and High Court judge, until 1987.

 He started independent practice at the Bombay High Court in 1987 and appeared before the Nagpur Bench from 1990 onward. Justice Gavai was then appointed Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor at the Bombay High Court, Nagpur Bench, in August 1992, and later became the Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor in January 2000.

He was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Bombay High Court in November 2003 and became a permanent judge on November 12, 2005. During his tenure, he presided over benches at Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad, and Panaji and handled cases of different types. 

It is worth mentioning that during his tenure as an apex court judge in the last six years, Justice Gavai was part of around 700 benches dealing with matters about a range of subjects.

 I congratulate him on his new assignment and hope he will bring more and more laurels through his activities.

Prof Shankar Chatterjee, Hyderabad

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Published by Dr. Shankar Chatterjee

This is Dr Shankar Chatterjee, retired on superannuation from the post of Professor & Head (CPME) from NIRD&PR, an organization of Govt. of India. I have published 32 books (individual and joint) and around 500 plus research papers, articles, letters. In addition, more than 1000 comments/views uploaded in the Digital column of different leading newspapers such as The Times of India, The Hindu etc. I have travelled across India for research studies and for other academic works, also visited Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Eritrea, Italy, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Peru, Namibia, Sri Lanka etc. as resource person. And for other purposes, I was in Austria, Germany, England, China, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Vatican City, Egypt, Yemen, Qatar, etc. In Rome, FAO, my research paper was appreciated and then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh Sri Rajsekhar Reddy Sir called me and greeted me. I have represented Assam State Hockey Team in All India Junior National Hockey and acted in a Telugu cinema. In January 2019, I have received Life Time Achievement Award under the banner of International Academic Excellence Awards -2019, from EAST (Environmental Advisory for Sustainable Trust), Tamil Nadu, India.