Former CJI BR Gavai's Selfless Gesture: Relinquishes Official Mercedes for Successor Justice Surya Kant

Chief Justice of India Surya Kant succeeded Chief Justice BR Gavai

New Delhi:

Former Chief Justice of India BR Gavai opted not to use the official black Mercedes-Benz vehicle when departing from Rashtrapati Bhavan after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's swearing-in ceremony, according to sources.

Justice Gavai's decision to utilize a personal vehicle for his journey home instead of the official car demonstrated his intention to ensure his successor had access to an official vehicle immediately upon assuming office.

"Following the oath ceremony, Justice Gavai relinquished the official vehicle designated for the Chief Justice and returned from Rashtrapati Bhavan in an alternative vehicle, ensuring the official car would be available for his successor's use when traveling to the Supreme Court," a source revealed.

Justice Gavai completed his tenure on Sunday. During a media interaction at his official residence that day, he affirmed that he would not accept any post-retirement positions.

"I clearly stated when assuming office that I would decline any post-retirement official assignments. The next 9-10 days represent a cooling-off period, after which I'll begin a new chapter," he explained.

President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to Chief Justice Surya Kant during a concise ceremony today. His tenure will span approximately 15 months.

Vice President CP Radhakrishnan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi were also present at the swearing-in ceremony.

Prior to his retirement, Chief Justice Gavai defended the collegium system for judicial appointments, advocated strongly for excluding affluent individuals from Scheduled Caste quota benefits, and expressed regret regarding the absence of women judge appointments during his Supreme Court tenure.

Notably, despite being a Dalit himself, he maintained his position on implementing a creamy layer concept to exclude financially privileged people among Scheduled Castes from reservation benefits.

"When benefits consistently flow to the same families, a class within a class emerges. Reservation must reach those with genuine need. If a chief secretary's child must compete against the child of a landless village laborer... or with the offspring of an IAS or IPS officer... would this constitute an equal platform?" he questioned.

Chief Justice Surya Kant commenced his official duties in courtroom number 1 at the Supreme Court, accompanied by Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Atul S Chandurkar. This marked the beginning of his approximately 15-month leadership of the nation's judiciary.

Throughout his Supreme Court tenure, Justice Kant has been associated with numerous landmark rulings, including decisions regarding the abrogation of Article 370 from Jammu and Kashmir, the Pegasus spyware controversy, freedom of speech, citizenship rights, and electoral roll reforms.

Before his elevation to the Supreme Court, he served as Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court and previously delivered several significant judgments while serving at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.