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Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai has officially taken charge as the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI). He was sworn in by President Droupadi Murmu at a brief ceremony held at the Ganatantra Mandap in Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Gavai took his oath in Hindi and succeeded Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who retired after turning 65.
Born on November 24, 1960, Justice Gavai has had a long and respected legal career. He will serve as the CJI for a little over six months and is scheduled to retire on November 23, 2025. Let’s take a detailed look at CJI BR Gavai’s monthly salary, allowances, pension, and career background.
Chief Justice of India: Salary and Benefits
According to the Department of Justice, the monthly salary of the Chief Justice of India is ₹2,80,000. In addition to the basic salary, the CJI also receives the following allowances and benefits:
- Furnishing Allowance: ₹10,00,000 per year to cover home furnishing expenses.
- House Rent Allowance (HRA): 24% of the basic salary.
- HRA increases to 27% when Dearness Allowance (DA) crosses 25%.
- It further increases to 30% when DA crosses 50%.
- Sumptuary Allowance: ₹45,000 per month for official hospitality and other personal expenses.
Pension and Retirement Benefits
After retirement, the Chief Justice of India receives:
- Annual Pension: ₹16,80,000
- Dearness Relief: Adjusted regularly to keep up with inflation
- Gratuity: A one-time lump sum payment of ₹20,00,000
These payments are drawn from the Consolidated Fund of India, which means they are guaranteed by the central government.
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Justice BR Gavai: Legal Career Journey
Justice Gavai’s journey in law began on March 16, 1985, when he joined the Bar. He initially worked under Raja S. Bhonsale, who was the former Advocate General and later became a High Court judge. From 1987, Gavai began practicing independently at the Bombay High Court, and later mainly appeared before the Nagpur Bench.
He specialized in Constitutional Law and Administrative Law and served as a standing counsel for:
- Nagpur Municipal Corporation
- Amravati Municipal Corporation
- Amravati University
He also represented public bodies like SICOM and DCVL.
In August 1992, Gavai became Assistant Government Pleader and Additional Public Prosecutor. Later, in 2000, he was promoted to Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor at the Nagpur Bench.
Judicial Appointments
- Additional Judge of Bombay High Court: November 14, 2003
- Permanent Judge of Bombay High Court: November 12, 2005
- Judge of the Supreme Court of India: May 24, 2019
- Chief Justice of India: May 15, 2025
Landmark Judgments by Justice Gavai
Justice Gavai has been part of around 700 benches during his tenure in the Supreme Court and has written nearly 300 judgments. Some of the most notable cases include:
- Article 370 Abrogation (2023): Part of the bench that upheld the Centre’s decision to revoke Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
- Electoral Bonds Verdict: He was part of the five-judge bench that struck down the controversial electoral bonds scheme.
- Demonetisation Verdict: Gavai supported the 2016 decision of the government to demonetize ₹500 and ₹1,000 notes.
- SC Sub-categorisation for Reservation: Upheld the power of states to make sub-classifications within Scheduled Castes.
- Arbitration Clause Ruling: A key ruling that validated arbitration clauses even in unstamped agreements.
- Demolition Guidelines: Headed the bench that ruled no property should be demolished without a 15-day notice to the affected party.
Justice Gavai also leads environment-related matters, including forest and wildlife protection.
International Exposure
Justice Gavai has represented India at several international conferences, including in:
- Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia)
- New York (USA)
- Cardiff (UK)
- Nairobi (Kenya)
He has also delivered lectures at top institutions like Harvard University and Columbia University on constitutional and environmental topics.
Conclusion
Justice BR Gavai brings a wealth of experience, commitment to the Constitution, and deep knowledge of the law to his role as the Chief Justice of India. His tenure, though brief, is expected to leave a significant impact on the Indian judiciary.
He will retire on November 23, 2025, after serving as the head of India’s top court for just over six months.