Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai (born 24 November 1960) is an Indian jurist and a judge of the Supreme Court of India.^[2] He is a former judge of the Bombay High Court and currently serves as the chancellor of the Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur.^[3][4][5] Also, he is the ex officio executive chairman of National Legal Services Authority.^[6] He is set to become the 52nd Chief Justice of India if the seniority convention is followed.^[7]

Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai
52nd Chief Justice-designate of India
Assuming office 14 May 2025[1]
Appointed by	Droupadi Murmu
Succeeding	Sanjiv Khanna
Judge of Supreme Court of India
Incumbent
Assumed office 24 May 2019
Nominated by	Ranjan Gogoi
Appointed by	Ram Nath Kovind
Judge of Bombay High Court
In office 14 November 2003 – 23 May 2019
Nominated by	V. N. Khare
Appointed by	A. P. J. Abdul Kalam
Personal details
Born	(1960-11-24) 24 November 1960 (age 64) Amravati, Maharashtra, India

Personal life

Bhushan Ramakrishan Gavai was born to R.S. Gavai and Kamala. His father led the Republican Party of India (Gavai) faction, former M.P and governor. His brother Rajendra Gavai is also a politician. His family is inspired by B. R. Ambedkar and follows Buddhism.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Early life and career

Gavai was born on 24 November 1960 at Amravati and joined the Bar on 16 March 1985. He worked with Bar. Raja S. Bhonsale, former advocate general and judge of the High Court. He practised independently at Bombay High Court from 1987 to 1990. After 1990, he practised mainly before Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court. He also practised in constitutional law and administrative law.^[12]

He was standing counsel for the municipal corporation of Nagpur, Amravati Municipal Corporation and Amravati University. Appeared regularly for various autonomous bodies and corporations like SICOM, DCVL etc. and various municipal councils in the Vidarbha region.

He was appointed as assistant government pleader and additional public prosecutor in the High Court of Judicature at Bombay, Nagpur Bench, from August 1992 to July 1993. Later, he was appointed as government pleader and public prosecutor for Nagpur Bench on 17 January 2000. He was elevated as an additional judge of the High Court on 14 November 2003.