Today, On 21st November, The Supreme Court held a ceremonial bench to bid farewell to CJI BR Gavai, as Bar members and law officers praised his simplicity and warmth. Attorney General Venkataramani said, “We deeply value the grace and dignity you brought.”
The Supreme Court today began the ceremonial bench to formally bid farewell to Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, who retires on November 23, 2025.
Senior members of the Bar and top law officers paid emotional tributes, sharing personal memories and expressing admiration for his simplicity, warmth, and contribution to the judiciary.
Attorney General R. Venkataramani was the first to speak before the ceremonial bench.
He said,
“We deeply value the grace and dignity you brought to the legal and judicial world.”
The Attorney General then read out a poem composed especially for CJI Gavai to mark the occasion.
Also Read: I Practice Buddhism, But I Believe in All Religions: CJI BR Gavai
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta recalled his first meeting with Justice Gavai during his days as a judge of the Bombay High Court.
The SG said,
“While CJI Gavai has grown immensely as a jurist, he has always remained the same warm and grounded individual. After you took charge and with Justice Kant soon to follow the Court has revived a renewed sense of ‘Indianness’ in its judgments.”
He also praised the CJI’s personal approach, adding that he always maintained the habit “to remember everyone by name and ask personal questions about family and studying members.”
Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, President of the SCBA, said the CJI always made the Bar feel equal.
He told the bench,
“Mylords always made us feel like you were one of us. You never created any divide for you, the Bar and the Bench were two sides of the same coin. I remember, when mylord goes to his village, you don’t take any security. You once said, ‘If someone kills me in my own village, maybe he’s doing a disservice.’ You said about increasing the retirement age of judges that change cannot be made in my disinterest while I am in service (laughs). We dont agree with that.”
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal described the tenure of CJI Gavai as historic.
He said,
“Your tenure is something we rarely witness truly a milestone. In the 70s, this Court felt elitist. Judges then were not the cronies we see today. With today’s social changes, we see a transformation in the complexion of this Court. A person like you becoming the CJI the nation should be proud. Your journey shows that a man can reach the highest peak and still remain simple. I have never seen you lose your temper.”
Sibal also read out a poem written personally for the CJI.
Senior Advocate Vipin Nair, President of SCAORA, said CJI Gavai inspired affection across the legal community.
He remarked,
“You remind us of a smiling Buddha. Your judgments have touched every corner of this country. You are perhaps the most popular CJI in recent memory.”
Senior Advocate Raju Ramachandran added that the CJI’s understanding of society and politics was remarkable.
He expressed hope for the future, saying,
“With your deep understanding of society, history, and politics, I hope you choose public life for the nation not the arbitration circuit.”
Additional Solicitor General SV Raju highlighted the CJI’s openness and fairness.
He said,
“You have always engaged openly with the Bar and encouraged it. You’ve shown that institutions run not just by rulings, but by collective spirit. You know how to distinguish the essential from the trivial. And you come from a community under represented in the higher judiciary.”
Former SCBA President Pradeep Rai praised the CJI’s humility through real-life examples.
He said,
“Your humility stands out for instance, when former CJI SA Bobde needed medical care, you didn’t just call the AIIMS Director you personally visited and ensured everything was taken care of. Justice Venkatachaliah once told me about a similar shoe-throwing incident involving Justice Meharchand. Instead of reacting, he told the man, ‘You’ll be barefoot without your shoe take it back.’ That same spirit of grace is reflected in Your Lordship.”
ASG Aishwarya Bhati added an emotional tribute, calling the CJI’s rise extraordinary.
She said,
“There are some stars that even the galaxy feels proud of and your journey is one of them. That ‘thank you, thank you’ moment was a rare exception for young lawyers where mylords said costs would be imposed, but ultimately spared them. The climate, the air, the Aravallis, animals all owe you gratitude for your environmental interventions. You have consistently encouraged women at the Bar and entrusted us with responsibilities that truly should come to women lawyers.”
During the ceremony, an advocate walked forward to shower flowers on the CJI, but Justice Gavai immediately intervened, saying,
“Please, maintain decorum. No, no I request you, don’t do this.”
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi also shared warm memories.
He told the bench,
“I’ve shared a long association with mylord. We’ll truly miss your warmth and sharp legal mind. Please continue to stay in Delhi drop by the SC Bar for a coffee. I also welcome Justice Surya Kant since he hasn’t invited us to the oath ceremony, we’ll watch it from here.”
Earlier, Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai, who is set to retire on November 23, delivered an emotional and reflective farewell speech at the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) function, emphasizing his commitment to secularism, Buddhism, and the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution.