CJI Gavai Steps Down After Six Months Marked by Cautious Verdicts and Quiet Resolve
CJI Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai concludes his tenure, remembered for caution, integrity, and Ambedkarite values.
Chief Justice of India Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai concluded his six-month tenure on November 23, 2025, with an emotional farewell that reflected both satisfaction with his long legal career and recognition of the complex legacy he leaves behind. Known for emphasizing Ambedkarite constitutional values and equality, Gavai was one of only two Dalits and the first Buddhist to lead India’s judiciary. His term was marked by careful judicial choices and a strong focus on maintaining institutional dignity.
Gavai's tenure faced controversy, notably his judgment on extending the "creamy layer" principle to Scheduled Castes, which triggered debate within his own community. His final major ruling on a Presidential Reference avoided engaging deeply with constitutional uncertainties, reflecting his cautious approach to sensitive political issues. Critics saw this as protecting the court’s institutional status but leaving substantive questions unresolved for future benches.
An incident where a lawyer threw a shoe at Gavai in court highlighted his restrained leadership style. Gavai instructed staff to ignore the act and initially declined contempt proceedings, a decision that drew mixed reactions for balancing magnanimity with the need to uphold judicial decorum amid rising public hostility.
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Despite these challenges, Gavai’s peers praised him for integrity, patience, and humor, though his impact was considered incremental rather than transformative. He framed judicial service as ironing out wrinkles in the fabric of law, not altering it, underscoring his steady, institution-focused legacy as he passed the mantle to Justice Surya Kant.
As he exited the Supreme Court, Gavai left behind a reputation for principled caution and respect for institutional boundaries, creating a foundation for his successors to build upon amid ongoing legal and constitutional challenges.
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