Never Saw Position Of Judge As Office Of Power, But As Chance To Serve: CJI BR Gavai

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, during his farewell ceremony at the Supreme Court, said that he never viewed the role of a judge as a position of authority but as a responsibility to serve the country. Speaking before a ceremonial bench, he shared that throughout his career—as a lawyer, a High Court judge, and later a Supreme Court judge—he always believed that the judiciary’s purpose is to serve society.

Justice Gavai will retire on November 23. Reflecting on his journey, he said that even after nearly four decades in the profession, he still considers himself a student of law and justice. He joined the legal profession in 1985, and he said he leaves office with the same curiosity and humility with which he began.

The CJI spoke about how he often looked up to Dr BR Ambedkar’s ideals, especially his historic speech on November 25, 1949, delivered just before the Constitution was formally adopted. Justice Gavai said that issues related to the environment, ecology, and wildlife were close to his heart, and he felt fortunate that many of his judgments were connected to these areas.

He recalled that one of his first decisions as a High Court judge dealt with environmental sustainability. He also noted that his final judgment in the Supreme Court involved protecting the Aravali Hills—closing his judicial journey with a cause he deeply cared about.

Quoting Dr Ambedkar, he said the Constitution is not meant to remain static and that courts must evolve with the changing needs of society. He emphasised that during his tenure as CJI, every decision was made collectively with all his fellow judges because he believed in the Supreme Court as a unified institution.

Justice Gavai observed that it was a great honour to lead the judiciary during the Supreme Court’s 75th anniversary celebrations. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to contribute towards strengthening social and economic equality in the country.

In his closing remarks, he thanked his family, his staff, and the 18 law clerks who supported him during his tenure.

Justice Gavai is the second Chief Justice of India from the Scheduled Caste community, after Justice KG Balakrishnan, who retired in 2010. He is also the first Buddhist judge to head the Indian judiciary. His term as CJI lasted a little over six months, and he was elevated to the Supreme Court from the Bombay High Court on May 24, 2019.