Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai: A Landmark Appointment

The appointment of Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai as the 52nd Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is a significant event, highlighting the ongoing journey towards social inclusion in India.

Significance of Justice Gavai's Appointment

• Justice Gavai is only the second Dalit to head the Supreme Court, following Justice K G Balakrishnan.
• He is one of only seven Supreme Court judges from the Dalit community since 1950, underscoring the long road to social equality.

Career and Challenges

• Justice Gavai's career illustrates the hurdles faced in achieving equal opportunities.
• Under Article 124(3) of the Constitution, eligibility for Supreme Court judgeship requires specific legal experience.
• Justice Gavai served as a high court judge for 16 years before his Supreme Court appointment in 2019.
• His elevation was accelerated by two years to promote diversity on the Bench.

Notable Judgments

• Justice Gavai has contributed to key judgments, such as: 
  1. Revocation of Jammu & Kashmir’s special status.
  2. Decision on demonetisation.
  3. Allowing states to create sub-categories within Scheduled Castes for reservation.
  4. Striking down the electoral bond scheme for political funding.

Future Challenges

• Justice Gavai will oversee politically sensitive cases, like the validity of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.
• His tenure is limited to six months, posing challenges for deep institutional reform.

Legacy of Justice Sanjiv Khanna

• Justice Khanna introduced mechanisms to enhance the integrity of the collegium process.
• Mandated asset disclosure by sitting Supreme Court judges to improve institutional credibility.
• Addressed case pendency, with over 80,000 cases still pending.

Restoring Public Trust

• Justice Gavai has pledged not to accept any government post after retirement, aiming to restore public trust in the judiciary.