EVERY CORNER OF Chief Justice B.R. Gavai’s home resonates with Maharashtrian warmth. Intricate rangoli designs at the entrance, interiors featuring brass lamps and antique copper utensils, a beautifully crafted wooden swing with embroidered cushions, and a courtyard lush with tulsi plants. It is a perfect parcel of regional pride, a piece of Amravati he has carried into the national capital.
A lover of Marathi cuisine, the chief justice is often found enjoying a meal at Maharashtra Sadan in the capital, and still makes it a point to visit his village three times a year—on the birth and death anniversary of his late father, and during the annual fair.
His father, Ramkrishna Suryabhan Gavai, known as Dadasaheb, was a titan in his own right: a parliamentarian, former governor of Bihar and Kerala, and a fierce Ambedkarite. Raised in a Buddhist household, the young Gavai grew up amid debates on justice and dignity, with the Constitution not just a document but a sacred covenant. “I am here only because of Dr B.R. Ambedkar and the Constitution of India,” he told THE WEEK days before he took oath as chief justice. “I am fulfilling my father’s dream.”
At 25, Gavai stepped into the legal arena and honed his craft at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court. He specialised in constitutional and administrative law, and was elevated to the Bombay High Court as an additional judge in 2003. He served across Mumbai, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Panaji, his rulings a blend of rigour and empathy. In 2019, his ascent to the Supreme Court marked a historic moment: he became the first scheduled caste judge in the apex court since Justice K.G. Balakrishnan’s retirement in 2010. Now, as the first Buddhist and second dalit chief justice, the 64-year-old has six months to try and implement his vision and bring about transformative change.
Gavai’s judicial record is a tapestry of boldness. His deep sense of justice came through powerfully in July 2023, when he left a cultural event late at night to head to the Supreme Court. It was a midnight hearing, an extraordinary move, driven by the urgency to hear an appeal concerning social activist Teesta Setalvad—the Gujarat High Court had refused to grant her bail in a case tied to the 2002 Gujarat riots. Leading the bench, he posed a pointed question—why should Setalvad be denied interim relief when even regular offenders were granted it? In that moment, his commitment to the rule of law and social justice wasn’t just spoken, it was lived.
Most poignantly, Gavai’s bench outlawed “bulldozer justice”, declaring unconstitutional the demolition of accused persons’ properties without due process, a stand that echoed his commitment to the rule of law over populist vengeance.
Yet, it is Gavai’s humanity that sets him apart. In 2025, he went to Manipur, a land scarred by ethnic conflict, leading a team of Supreme Court judges to distribute relief and launch legal aid camps under the National Legal Services Authority, where he had served as executive chairman. A woman’s simple greeting—“welcome to your home”—pierced his heart, a moment he called a “great learning”.
This perspective has guided his courtroom, with him conducting proceedings with a firm hand and quick wit. Lawyers interrupting his dictation are met with a dry, “then you pass the order,” a quip that silences disruptions and earns smiles from the gallery.
A law researcher who has worked closely with Gavai for years told THE WEEK: “He has an elephant-like memory; he spends so much time reading the case files and briefs that we share with him every day, and the best part is he never forgets anything. He calls everyone by their name.”
With six months on the clock, Gavai has inherited a complex legal setup as the judiciary faces accusations of overreach, delays and persistent gender imbalance. With only one female judge left in the Supreme Court after the retirement of Justice Bela Trivedi, and just 107 of 768 High Court judges being women, the Gavai-led collegium’s challenge would be to elevate qualified women from the bar and lower courts.
With multiple Supreme Court vacancies and anticipated retirements on the horizon, Gavai stands at a pivotal juncture. “I am aware of the challenges women advocates and judges face in their day-to-day lives in court,” he told THE WEEK. “I will ensure that I sort out these issues and we have more women judges.”
His cautious stance on social diversity and the difficulty of finding qualified nominees cast uncertainty, but given Gavai’s reputation for fairness and a strong constitutional grounding, a lot of people will be watching to see whether he champions inclusive appointments—an action that could set a powerful precedent for future collegiums.
Gavai’s first challenge will be to set up a Constitution bench to address the reference President Droupadi Murmu sent to the Supreme Court, seeking advice on 14 questions regarding assent of state bills by a governor or the president. This was following the apex court’s recent judgment in the Tamil Nadu case, which said the governor cannot withhold assent to bills. Creating a Constitution bench to address this reference is complex, as some argue the questions are already answered in the judgment.
Other potential cases include the petitions against the Waqf Amendment Act, challenges to the Places of Worship Act and ongoing disputes over federalism. Gavai’s experience across 700 benches and authorship of 367 judgments position him to streamline case disposal, possibly by leveraging technology or alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. Perhaps for the first time in recent history, Gavai has decided to preside over “partial working days” of the Supreme Court during summer recess, beginning May 26.
In candid remarks to THE WEEK, he signalled internal changes to address nepotism and enhance transparency, while fostering trust among constitutional bodies. His refusal to accept post-retirement assignments—“I do not have any political ambition”—underscores a commitment to judicial purity. “No CJI should take any office below the CJI’s office in the order of precedence,” he said.
The Justice Yashwant Varma case—in whose home sacks of burning cash were reportedly found—and protocol tensions with the executive add complexity to his road ahead, but his commitment to social justice and judicial restraint offer opportunities to leave a meaningful legacy. His experience with landmark rulings and reputation for constitutional fidelity equip him to address these challenges, but his short tenure demands strategic focus.