Justice B R Gavai sworn in as new CJI

Will serve as CJI until his retirement on November 23

- MPOST BUREAU

NEW DELHI: Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on Wednesday. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath during a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan's Ganatantra Mandap.

The 64-year-old Justice Gavai replaces Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retired Tuesday upon reaching age 65. Justice Gavai, appointed to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, will serve as Chief Justice for approximately six months until his retirement on November 23.

Before his appointment as Chief Justice, Justice Gavai participated in several significant judicial decisions, including the ruling that upheld the government's revocation of Article 370's special status provisions for Jammu and Kashmir. He took the oath of affirmation in Hindi.

Soon after he took oath, CJI Gavai sought blessings of his mother Kamal Tai Gavai by touching her feet. He was greeted by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union ministers and former judges. PM Modi later posted pictures of the swearing in on his social media handle.

"Wishing him the very best for his tenure," the prime minister wrote on X.