Former CJI B.R. Gavai set a historic example by returning home in his personal car, leaving the official Mercedes for newly sworn-in CJI Surya Kant. His dignified gesture has won widespread appreciation across legal and public circles.
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NEW DELHI: In a development that has drawn admiration across India’s legal community, newly sworn-in Chief Justice of India Surya Kant assumed office on Monday, while outgoing CJI B.R. Gavai marked his retirement with an unusual and dignified gesture that has set a new standard for judicial protocol.
Justice Gavai arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the official Mercedes-Benz car allocated to the CJI but chose not to use it again after the ceremony. Instead of returning home in the same vehicle, he departed in his personal car, ensuring the designated official vehicle was immediately available to his successor.
According to a person familiar with the transition, the decision was intentional and symbolic of smooth institutional continuity, allowing Justice Surya Kant to directly proceed to the Supreme Court in the official car without any delay.
“After the oath ceremony, Justice Gavai left the official vehicle designated for the Chief Justice and returned in an alternative vehicle from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, ensuring that the official car is available for use by his successor.”
At a ceremony hosted at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Justice Surya Kant, who recited the oath in Hindi. Senior leaders and constitutional authorities, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, and former CJI Gavai, were among those in attendance.
Justice Surya Kant had been officially named the next CJI in October and will serve for nearly 15 months, with his tenure concluding on February 9, 2027, upon reaching the statutory retirement age of 65.
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