Justice BR Gavai retired after delivering 464 Supreme Court judgments, closing a remarkable chapter in India’s judicial history. His tenure is widely seen as a legacy of clarity, balance, and impactful rulings that shaped several areas of constitutional and criminal law.
Justice B.R. Gavai, a highly prolific judge, concluded his term as Chief Justice of India on November 23, 2025.
During his nearly six-and-a-half-year tenure at the Supreme Court, he authored a remarkable 464 judgments and participated in 772 benches.
With an average of over 70 judgments per year, Justice Gavai was appointed to the Supreme Court on May 13, 2019.
His successor, Justice Surya Kant, took the oath of office as the new Chief Justice on November 24, following Gavai’s retirement. Justice Kant, appointed on the same day as Justice Gavai, has authored 293 judgments, averaging about 45 per year.
Throughout his tenure, Gavai’s productivity varied year by year. In his first year, he wrote 42 judgments across 63 benches, achieving an authorship rate of 66 percent, as reported by the Supreme Court Observer.
By 2022, he reached his highest annual output, delivering 98 judgments and maintaining an authorship rate of 71 percent. In his final year, he issued 70 rulings, with his authorship rate consistently exceeding 50 percent.
According to Manupatra data, criminal law constituted the largest portion of his judgments, totaling 154 rulings, followed by 53 in service law, 44 in civil matters, 34 on direct taxation, and 26 related to property issues. Gavai’s six-and-a-half years on the bench surpasses the current average tenure of 5.1 years among serving judges.
His retirement marks the end of a significant era characterized not only by quantity but also by unwavering consistency across intricate legal challenges.
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14, 2025, represents a historic moment in India’s judicial journey. As the first Buddhist and only the second Dalit after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan to hold this office, Justice Gavai’s rise from a modest background to the apex of India’s judiciary stands as a symbol of inclusive progress.
With more than 367 authored judgments and participation in over 700 Supreme Court benches, his contributions span constitutional law, criminal jurisprudence, civil liberties, environmental governance, and administrative reforms.
Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai grew up in a humble environment. His father, R.S. Gavai, a towering Ambedkarite figure and founder of the Republican Party of India (Gavai), deeply influenced his values. Washing utensils, fetching water, and helping his mother, Kamaltai, during his childhood shaped his understanding of ground realities.
After earning his B.A. LL.B. from Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar College of Law, he enrolled as an advocate in 1985, beginning his career under Barrister Raja S. Bhonsale at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court.
On 24 May 2019, he was elevated to the Supreme Court, marking the return of SC representation from the Scheduled Caste community after almost a decade. His judicial acumen and commitment to constitutional values led to his appointment as CJI in 2025.
Justice Gavai’s jurisprudence expands constitutional boundaries, strengthens individual liberties, and reins in arbitrary state power.
Also Read: CJI BR Gavai’s Legacy: How He Redefined Judicial Limits, With Key Judgments Explained
From his humble beginnings in Amravati to the highest judicial office, Justice B.R. Gavai’s journey is a testament to merit, perseverance, and constitutional commitment. His judgments have expanded the frontiers of Individual liberty, Executive accountability, Electoral transparency, Social justice, and Judicial independence.
By redefining judicial limits, Justice Gavai has left an indelible mark on Indian constitutional law, ensuring that the judiciary remains the ultimate safeguard of democracy.
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