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Justice B.R. Gavai to be 52nd CJI: CJI Sanjiv Khanna recommended Justice Gavai for the position.
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Seniority Norm: Justice Gavai is next in line based on seniority.
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Second Dalit CJI: He will be the second Dalit CJI after Justice K.G. Balakrishnan.
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Appointment Process: The Law Ministry seeks the outgoing CJI’s recommendation as per the Memorandum of Procedure, kickstarting the appointment process.
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Background: Born November 24, 1960, joined the Bar in 1985. His father was a former Governor and Dalit leader.
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Supreme Court Tenure: Elevated to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, due to retire on November 23, 2025.
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Short Tenure: If appointed, Justice Gavai will have a tenure of approximately six months.
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Key Judgments:
- Part of benches that upheld the abrogation of Article 370.
- Struck down the Electoral Bonds Scheme.
- Advocated applying the creamy layer principle to SCs/STs.
- Laid down guidelines against illegal demolitions.
- Held that States have the right to sub-classify Scheduled Castes.
- Fortified right to personal liberty in Manish Sisodia bail case.
- Ordered release of Perarivalan in Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.
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High Court Experience: Practised in the Bombay High Court from 1987, became a permanent judge in 2005.
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CJI Appointment: Appointed by the President under Article 124 (2).
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Qualification: Citizen of India, served as a High Court judge for 5 years or as an advocate for 10 years or a distinguished jurist.
