NEW DELHI: Justice B.R. Gavai was sworn in and assumed office as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office. He is the first Chief Justice who is a follower of Buddhism and the second with Dalit roots to reach the highest position in the Indian judiciary, after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan. His term of service is until November 23rd of this year.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at Rashtrapati Bhavan and was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, outgoing Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Justice Gavai’s mother Kamaltai, wife Tejaswini Gavai, and others.
Prior to the ceremony, Justice Gavai paid floral tributes at the statues of Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar located in the Supreme Court premises. He recalled that both figures are guiding lights for the nation and the Constitution.