CJI-designate Justice BR Gavai praised former CJI NV Ramana as “truly the people’s Chief Justice of India,” praising his compassionate leadership, commitment to justice, and deep connection with the common man during his tenure.
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India designate Justice BR Gavai commended former Chief Justice NV Ramana for his significant contributions to the judiciary and highlighted his vision for making justice accessible to ordinary citizens.
Justice Gavai stated,
“He believed in going to the people. He believed in meeting the people. I think he was truly the people’s Chief Justice of India,”
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As he prepares to succeed the current CJI Sanjiv Khanna after his retirement on May 13, Justice Gavai noted that he shares three key traits with Justice Ramana and Justice Surya Kant.
He remarked,
“All three of us are coming from a rural background. All three of us belong to agricultural families, and all three of us are first-generation lawyers,”
Justice Gavai praised Justice Ramana’s inclusive vision and recalled the landmark occasion in 2021 when nine judges were sworn in simultaneously under Justice Ramana’s leadership.
He mentioned that one of those newly appointed judges, Justice BV Nagarathna, is poised to become the first female Chief Justice of India.
Justice Gavai said,
“I found him to be a true human being, very loving and caring, a man full of humanity, empathy, sympathy and compassion, all that is printed in his judgments and also the speeches that are presented to us in the compilation of the ‘Narratives of the bench: A Judge speaks’,”
Justice N.V. Ramana is a former Chief Justice of India (CJI), who served as the 48th CJI from 24 April 2021 to 26 August 2022.
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He was elevated as a permanent judge of the Andhra Pradesh High Court in 2000, became Chief Justice of the Delhi High Court in 2013, and was appointed to the Supreme Court in 2014.
Justice Ramana is known for his emphasis on judicial accountability, speedy justice, and free speech. His tenure also included key hearings on sedition law, electoral bonds, and Pegasus spyware.
Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, has officially recommended the name of Justice BR Gavai to the Union Law Ministry to be appointed as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI).
Justice BR Gavai is expected to take oath as the new CJI on May 14, which is one day after Justice Khanna retires from the top post.