CJI Sanjiv Khanna retires on May 13, 2025, and Justice BR Gavai will take oath as the new Chief Justice on May 14. The WAQF matter is listed as the first major case before his bench on May 15.
New Delhi: The important WAQF case has now been listed to be heard on 15th May 2025, just a day after the new Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai, takes the oath of office.
This will be one of the first major matters to be taken up by his bench at the Supreme Court of India.
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Justice BR Gavai is set to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India. He will be sworn in on 14th May 2025 at Rashtrapati Bhavan by the President of India.
As per the official listing,
“New CJI BR gavai will take oath on 14th May 2025.”
The very next day, his bench will take up the WAQF matter, which has remained under close legal and public scrutiny.
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According to court records,
“The WAQF Matter gets listed before new CJI bench J. BR Gavai on 15th May 2025.”
This development comes right after the retirement of the current Chief Justice of India, Justice Sanjiv Khanna, whose last working day is 13th May 2025.
Justice Khanna, known for his calm judicial approach, legal clarity, and commitment to constitutional principles, served a brief term as the 51st Chief Justice of India after taking over from former CJI DY Chandrachud in November 2024.
During his tenure, he focused on improving judicial transparency, managing pendency, and speeding up hearings in constitutional matters.
Justice Sanjiv Khanna comes from a distinguished legal family and was elevated to the Supreme Court in January 2019. Before that, he served as a judge of the Delhi High Court.
As CJI, he presided over several key benches and gave thoughtful judgments on topics such as civil liberties, gender equality, and judicial accountability.
Though his tenure as CJI was short, his contribution to the Indian judiciary has been appreciated by many in the legal community.
With Justice Khanna now retiring, Justice BR Gavai takes over the highest post in the Indian judiciary. Justice Gavai will begin his term with the responsibility of handling several significant cases — the WAQF matter being among the most important.
It deals with complex questions regarding the rights, control, and administration of WAQF properties in India, and involves both central and state government perspectives, WAQF boards, and public interest litigants.
The listing of this case right after the oath ceremony of the new CJI signals that Justice Gavai will be taking an active and quick approach in dealing with high-profile constitutional matters.
A senior legal expert commented,
“Justice Gavai is likely to set the tone for a very active and transparent Chief Justiceship.”
With a reputation for being fair, diligent, and legally sound, Justice Gavai is expected to play a key role in shaping judicial policies and delivering landmark rulings in the months to come.
The WAQF case’s outcome could have a long-lasting impact on religious trust laws, land rights, and the jurisdiction of state and central authorities over WAQF properties.
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It will also test how the judiciary interprets and balances community rights with constitutional norms.
All eyes will now be on the Supreme Court as it begins hearing the case under the new Chief Justice’s leadership from 15th May 2025.
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