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The Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the highest-ranking judicial authority in the country and the head of the Supreme Court of India, which is the apex court established under Article 124 of the Indian Constitution. As the first among equals, the CJI presides over the courtroom and the complex administrative machinery of the judiciary. From the inception of the Supreme Court in 1950 to the present day, each Chief Justice has played a pivotal role in shaping the nation’s legal landscape. Stay tuned as we delve into the lives and tenures of these remarkable individuals.
The CJI is more than the first judge in the Supreme Court; it is also the pivot of the Indian judiciary. The position comprises two different functions. One serves as the head of the Supreme Court’s constitutional bench.
At the same time, the other includes administrative leadership responsibilities such as allocating cases to particular benches and maintaining the court’s list of officials and judges. Supreme Court Chief Justice (CJI) decisions can shape how we interpret our country’s Constitution and the law development process.
Article 124 of the Indian Constitution provides for the establishment and constitution of the apex court, comprising the post of CJI. In Indian law, it is said that the President will choose the Chief Justice of India. It would follow convention since he automatically names the most senior Judge from the Supreme Court so that their ranks would remain constant.
The CJI symbolizes the rule of law and independence of the judiciary, playing a critical role in upholding democracy and justice in India.
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, appointed as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on May 14, 2025, brings a remarkable legacy of legal integrity, inclusivity, and constitutional fidelity. Born on November 24, 1960, in Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career in 1985 and steadily rose. His judicial journey began in the Bombay High Court, where he served with distinction before being elevated to the Supreme Court of India in 2019.
Throughout his tenure, he has served on more than 700 benches and authored nearly 300 judgments, many of which have left a lasting imprint on Indian jurisprudence. Notably, Justice Gavai is the first Chief Justice from the Buddhist community and only the second from the Scheduled Caste category, marking a moment of historic representation in India’s judiciary. He is widely respected for his unwavering dedication to upholding constitutional values, ensuring procedural fairness, and advocating for the rule of law in a rapidly evolving democratic society.
In the State of Punjab v. Davinder Singh case, Justice Gavai supported the constitutional validity of sub-classification within Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This decision, led by the Chief Justice of India, opened pathways for more targeted affirmative action, ensuring that the most disadvantaged communities receive equitable benefits.
In the landmark case concerning the 2016 demonetisation policy, Justice Gavai delivered the majority opinion in support of the government. His judgment stressed that the decision was taken after due consultation with the Reserve Bank of India and was in alignment with the larger goals of curbing black money, counterfeiting, and promoting a digital economy. He underlined that while the measure had wide-reaching impacts, it maintained a rational connection with its stated objectives and did not breach constitutional norms.
3. Striking Down Electoral Bonds (2024)
Justice Gavai was part of the Constitution Bench that ruled the Electoral Bonds Scheme unconstitutional. He emphasized that anonymous political donations hinder transparency and violate the citizens’ right to information, which is essential in a participative democracy. The verdict restored a vital check on unregulated political funding and set new standards for accountability in electoral processes.
In a vital verdict addressing unauthorized demolitions, Justice Gavai clarified that punitive actions like property demolitions must follow the rule of law. The Supreme Court Chief Justice criticized arbitrary state actions and reiterated that no individual should be punished without proper legal recourse. This ruling reaffirmed his role as a guardian of fundamental rights and defender of constitutional procedures.
In one of the most politically sensitive cases, Justice Gavai was part of the bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370, which had granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir. He affirmed the constitutional authority of Parliament in this matter and emphasized that such a change was within the purview of the Indian federal structure, reaffirming the principles of national unity and legal sovereignty.
A judge of the Supreme Court can appoint the CJI. The President of India is responsible for appointing the Chief Justice of India. The CJI’s tenure may not be specified in terms of years but is capped at sixty-five years of age. Also, an impeachment process to remove the CJI from his/her office has been established, requiring at least two-thirds support from both Houses of Parliament for justice to prevail.
The CJI’s impact on the Indian Legal sphere is tremendous. It does this through famous judicial decisions and constitutional interpretation, greatly changing a country’s social-legal environment. A critical element of this democratic tissue of India is the role of the CJI in maintaining the constitutional order and providing justice.
Chief Justice of India is an onerous post that combines legal ability with a high order of administrative talents and a grasp of the Constitution. It is one of such positions in which one has to judge and shape or mould existing laws to conform to the emerging needs of a changing societal milieu.
Harilal Jekisundas Kania is the first Chief Justice of India, serving from January 28, 1950, until his untimely death on November 6, 1951. Though brief, his tenure coincided with a crucial period in India’s history – its transition into a republic.
Born on November 3, 1890, in Navsari, Gujarat, Kania came from a family with a strong academic background. His father was a Sanskrit professor, likely influencing Kania’s pursuit of education. He earned his BA from Samaldas College and later obtained his LLB and LLM from Government Law College, Bombay. Kania’s legal journey began at the Bombay High Court in 1915. His dedication and exceptional service earned him a knighthood in 1943.
Kania’s role as the first Chief Justice was monumental. He played a central role in establishing the Supreme Court’s authority and interpreting the newly adopted Constitution of India. He presided over landmark cases that laid the foundation for the nation’s legal system. While specific judgments aren’t detailed here, his contribution to shaping the judicial landscape of independent India remains undeniable.
As the head of the Federal Court before India became a republic and subsequently as the Chief Justice, Kania was involved in crucial decisions during the nation’s legal and constitutional identity formation. The Indian judiciary owes a significant part of its foundation to Kania’s contributions.
The H.J. Kania Remembrance Library at the Public Authority Regulation School, Mumbai, stands as a lasting reminder of his influence on legal education and the regulation field in India.
Leila Seth, synonymous with legal excellence and social justice, shattered glass ceilings throughout her remarkable career. Born October 20, 1930, in Lucknow, British India, she overcame a challenging childhood to become the first woman Chief Justice of a state High Court in India.
Leila’s early life was marked by adversity. The loss of her father at just eleven years old forced her to develop resilience. Despite financial struggles, her mother’s unwavering determination ensured Leila received a quality education at Loreto Convent, Darjeeling. This strong foundation propelled her to achieve the extraordinary, topping the London Bar exam at 27, a historic first for a woman.
Upon returning to India, Leila embarked on a legal career in Patna. The path wasn’t easy. Navigating a male-dominated profession, she confronted gender-based discrimination head-on. Her exceptional legal acumen and unwavering commitment to justice propelled her rise from a judge to the distinguished position of Chief Justice.
Leila Seth wasn’t just a legal powerhouse but a woman of remarkable balance. She managed a fulfilling family life alongside her illustrious career. She married Prem Seth and raised three children, including the renowned author Vikram Seth. She remained a vocal advocate for LGBTQIA rights, offering unwavering support to her son when he came out as gay.
Justice Leila Seth left an indelible mark on the Indian legal system. Her legacy extends beyond legal reforms. She paved the way for future generations of women in law, inspiring countless individuals with her work. Her decisions continue to resonate within the halls of justice, a testament to her enduring influence.
On May 14, 2025, the present Chief Justice of India, Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, was named as the country’s 52nd Chief Justice of India. After a brief tenure as India’s 51st Chief Justice, Justice Sanjeev Khanna relinquished his position, taking the baton from the former Chief Justice of India, Justice Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud, the country’s 50th Chief Justice. Here is the list of 52 Chief Justices of India.
| No. | Name | Date of Appointment | Held Office Till |
| 1 | Hon’ble Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania | 26/01/1950 | 06/11/1951 |
| 2 | Hon’ble Justice M. Patanjali Sastri | 07/11/1951 | 03/01/1954 |
| 3 | Hon’ble Justice Mehr Chand Mahajan | 04/01/1954 | 22/12/1954 |
| 4 | Hon’ble Justice Bijan Kumar Mukherjea | 23/12/1954 | 31/01/1956 |
| 5 | Hon’ble Justice Sudhi Ranjan Das | 01/02/1956 | 30/09/1959 |
| 6 | Hon’ble Justice Bhuvneshwar Prasad Sinha | 01/10/1959 | 31/01/1964 |
| 7 | Hon’ble Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar | 01/02/1964 | 15/03/1966 |
| 8 | Hon’ble Justice A.K. Sarkar | 16/03/1966 | 29/06/1966 |
| 9 | Hon’ble Justice K. Subba Rao | 30/06/1966 | 11/04/1967 |
| 10 | Hon’ble Justice K.N. Wanchoo | 12/04/1967 | 24/02/1968 |
| 11 | Hon’ble Justice M. Hidayatullah | 25/02/1968 | 16/12/1970 |
| 12 | Hon’ble Justice J.C. Shah | 17/12/1970 | 21/01/1971 |
| 13 | Hon’ble Justice S.M. Sikri | 22/01/1971 | 25/04/1973 |
| 14 | Hon’ble Justice A.N. Ray | 26/04/1973 | 28/01/1977 |
| 15 | Hon’ble Justice M. Hameedullah Beg | 29/01/1977 | 21/02/1978 |
| 16 | Hon’ble Justice Y.V. Chandrachud | 22/02/1978 | 11/07/1985 |
| 17 | Hon’ble Justice P.N. Bhagwati | 12/07/1985 | 20/12/1986 |
| 18 | Hon’ble Justice R.S. Pathak | 21/12/1986 | 18/06/1989 |
| 19 | Hon’ble Justice E.S. Venkataramiah | 19/06/1989 | 17/12/1989 |
| 20 | Hon’ble Justice Sabyasachi Mukherjee | 18/12/1989 | 25/09/1990 |
| 21 | Hon’ble Justice Ranganath Misra | 25/09/1990 | 24/11/1991 |
| 22 | Hon’ble Justice K.N. Singh | 25/11/1991 | 12/12/1991 |
| 23 | Hon’ble Justice M.H. Kania | 13/12/1991 | 17/11/1992 |
| 24 | Hon’ble Justice L.M. Sharma | 18/11/1992 | 11/02/1993 |
| 25 | Hon’ble Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah | 12/02/1993 | 24/10/1994 |
| 26 | Hon’ble Justice A.M. Ahmadi | 25/10/1994 | 24/03/1997 |
| 27 | Hon’ble Justice J.S. Verma | 25/03/1997 | 17/01/1998 |
| 28 | Hon’ble Justice M.M. Punchhi | 18/01/1998 | 09/10/1998 |
| 29 | Hon’ble Dr. Justice A.S. Anand | 10/10/1998 | 31/10/2001 |
| 30 | Hon’ble Justice S.P. Bharucha | 01/11/2001 | 05/05/2002 |
| 31 | Hon’ble Justice B.N. Kirpal | 06/05/2002 | 07/11/2002 |
| 32 | Hon’ble Justice G.B. Pattanaik | 08/11/2002 | 18/12/2002 |
| 33 | Hon’ble Justice V.N. Khare | 19/12/2002 | 01/05/2004 |
| 34 | Hon’ble Justice S. Rajendra Babu | 02/05/2004 | 31/05/2004 |
| 35 | Hon’ble Justice R.C. Lahoti | 01/06/2004 | 31/10/2005 |
| 36 | Hon’ble Justice Y.K. Sabharwal | 01/11/2005 | 13/01/2007 |
| 37 | Hon’ble Justice K.G. Balakrishnan | 14/01/2007 | 12/05/2010 |
| 38 | Hon’ble Justice S.H. Kapadia | 12/05/2010 | 28/09/2012 |
| 39 | Hon’ble Justice Altamas Kabir | 29/09/2012 | 18/07/2013 |
| 40 | Hon’ble Justice P. Sathasivam | 19/07/2013 | 26/04/2014 |
| 41 | Hon’ble Justice R. M. Lodha | 27/04/2014 | 27/09/2014 |
| 42 | Hon’ble Justice H.L. Dattu | 28/09/2014 | 02/12/2015 |
| 43 | Hon’ble Justice T. S. Thakur | 03/12/2015 | 03/01/2017 |
| 44 | Hon’ble Jagdish Singh Khehar | 04/01/2017 | 27/08/2017 |
| 45 | Hon’ble Justice Dipak Misra | 28/08/2017 | 02/10/2018 |
| 46 | Hon’ble Ranjan Gogoi | 03/10/2018 | 17/11/2019 |
| 47 | Hon’ble Sharad Arvind Bobde | 18/11/2019 | 23/04/2021 |
| 48 | Hon’ble Nuthalapati Venkata Ramana | 24/04/2021 | 26/08/2022 |
| 49 | Hon’ble UU Lalit | 27/08/2022 | 08/11/2022 |
| 50 | Hon’ble Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud | 09/11/2022 | 10/11/2024 |
| 51 | Hon’ble Justice Sanjiv Khanna | 11/11/24 | 13/05/25 |
| 52 | Hon’ble Justice B R Gavai | 14/05/25 | – |
Here are some crucial roles and responsibilities of the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India.
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) presides over the Supreme Court’s proceedings, deciding the composition of benches and allocating cases. They also lead the Constitutional bench for matters of constitutional significance. The CJI is responsible for the court’s roster, ensuring efficient operations. They oversee court staff, manage schedules, and are involved in appointing new judges in consultation with the Ministry of Law and Justice.
As per Article 124, the CJI is appointed by the President of India and upholds the Constitution and laws. The CJI also advises the President on judicial matters.
The CJI safeguards civil liberties, taking suo motu cognizance of issues affecting public welfare and fundamental rights. Article 145 empowers the CJI to establish rules for the court’s practice and procedures, including case hearings and bench formations.
The CJI leads the commission responsible for appointing and transferring judges in the higher judiciary. The CJI represents India’s judiciary globally, promoting legal dialogue and cooperation. As the senior-most judge, the CJI mentors junior judges, guiding them through complex legal issues and maintaining the judiciary’s integrity.
The principle of seniority in appointing the Chief Justice of India has been bypassed on three notable occasions in the Court’s history. The first instance occurred in 1964, when Justice Gajendragadkar was appointed Chief Justice, superseding Justice Imam. This marked the first break from the established convention.
The seniority norm was disregarded twice during Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s tenure. In 1973, her government appointed Justice A.N. Ray as Chief Justice of India, bypassing Justice Shelat, the senior-most judge at the time, and two other senior judges. This decision was widely criticized.
Later, the government again deviated from the principle by appointing Justice M.H. Beg as Chief Justice, overlooking Justice H.R. Khanna. Justice Khanna was the lone dissenter in the landmark ADM Jabalpur v. Shivkant Shukla case (1976), where he upheld that the Right to Life under Article 21 could not be suspended even during a National Emergency.
The Indian Chief Justices have significantly influenced the growth of the Indian judiciary in several ways, including:
The Chief Justice of India (CJI) holds the highest position in the Indian judiciary, a role that comes with immense responsibility and prestige. Along with the honour of the position, the CJI also receives a salary that reflects the significance of the role.
As of the latest revision, the Chief Justice of India receives a monthly salary of Rs. 2,80,000. This is higher than that of the Prime Minister of India and is the highest salary in the country after the President, Vice President, and Governor.
In addition to the basic salary, the CJI receives a pension with Dearness Allowance (DA) of Rs. 16,80,000 annually. Furthermore, the CJI is awarded a gratuity of Rs. 20,00,000.
The salary, pension, and allowances of the CJI are governed by the Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958. Any proposal to revise salaries, pensions, gratuities, allowances, etc., for Supreme Court and High Court judges requires an amendment to the Acts.
The last revision in the salaries, gratuities, allowances, pensions, etc., of the Supreme Court and the High Courts judges was approved by the Union Cabinet, chaired by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, on November 22, 2017.
Also read:
Supreme Court Judges (Salaries and Conditions of Service) Act, 1958
The office of the CJI of India is not merely symbolic; it is a cornerstone of the Indian judiciary’s independence, integrity, and responsiveness. The Supreme Court Chief Justice is immensely responsible for interpreting the Constitution, safeguarding civil liberties, managing judicial appointments, and mentoring future judges. As India grapples with complex legal and socio-political challenges, the Chief Justice remains pivotal in navigating these waters with constitutional wisdom and ethical clarity.
From Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania, who laid the foundational judicial principles of a newly independent republic, to Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, the 52nd and present Chief Justice of India, each occupant of this esteemed office has played a transformative role in shaping the nation’s legal and social fabric.
Justice Gavai’s historic appointment marks a progressive step toward judicial inclusivity, affirming that the Indian judiciary embraces diversity and upholds equality. His notable verdicts, from safeguarding fundamental rights to reinforcing electoral transparency and endorsing constitutional reforms, signal a forward-thinking approach that strengthens India’s democratic ethos.
The list of Chief Justices of India is not merely a register of names; it is a chronicle of courage, reform, dissent, and duty. As each era brings forth new judicial voices, the position of the CJI continues to symbolize the judiciary’s unwavering commitment to justice, constitutional supremacy, and the rule of law.
After gaining knowledge on “List of Chief Justices of India,” & for a deeper understanding of India’s legal landscape, explore the related articles given below:
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Article 124 of the Indian Constitution states that the president selects the Chief Justice of India. The senior judge of the Supreme Court becomes the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India.
The Chief Justice of India has two roles: judicial and administrative. They conduct court proceedings, allocate cases, organize court rosters, and play an important part in appointing new judges for effective judicial work.
The 51st Chief Justice of India is expected to be Justice Sanjiv Khanna.
The first Chief Justice of India post-independence was Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania.
Justice Surya Kant is expected to be the next Chief Justice of India in 2025 after Justice Gavai retires in November 20205.
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is the current Chief Justice of India, appointed on May 14, 2025. He is the first Buddhist CJI, known to hold constitutional commitments and decisions.
Authored by, Amay Mathur | Senior Editor
Amay Mathur is a business news reporter at Chegg.com. He previously worked for PCMag, Business Insider, The Messenger, and ZDNET as a reporter and copyeditor. His areas of coverage encompass tech, business, strategy, finance, and even space. He is a Columbia University graduate.
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Chegg India does not ask for money to offer any opportunity with the company. We request you to be vigilant before sharing your personal and financial information with any third party. Beware of fraudulent activities claiming affiliation with our company and promising monetary rewards or benefits. Chegg India shall not be responsible for any losses resulting from such activities.
