For just over six months, Chief Justice BR Gavai will sit at the helm of India’s top court. His tenure is brief, but the judicial gears turn steadily beneath him—with the Supreme Court Collegium largely holding its shape, save for one scheduled shift.
This body of five, composed of the most senior judges, holds extraordinary sway over judicial appointments and transfers across the country’s constitutional courts. Under CJI Gavai’s watch, it includes Justices Surya Kant, Abhay S Oka, Vikram Nath, and JK Maheshwari. Only after Justice Oka steps down in late May will a new name be added: Justice BV Nagarathna, who is set to break ground as India’s first woman Chief Justice.
Once CJI Gavai exits in late November, Justice MM Sundresh will be next to take a Collegium seat.
Here’s a deeper look at the cast behind this consequential bench:
The Chief at the Center: BR Gavai
Gavai’s journey began in the Bombay High Court in 1985. By 2003, he was a judge there, and by 2019, he’d risen to the Supreme Court. As only the second Dalit CJI in India’s history—after KG Balakrishnan—his appointment was historic and symbolically resonant.
On the bench, Gavai has left his fingerprints on significant decisions: greenlighting the 2016 demonetisation, endorsing the power of states to sub-categorize reservations, and enabling the Supreme Court to intervene in arbitral awards under Article 142. His time at the top is short, but he arrives with clear precedent.
Justice Surya Kant: Next in Line
Expected to take over as CJI after Gavai, Justice Kant brings a background in constitutional and civil law. His path led him through the Haryana Advocate General’s office and onto the Supreme Court in 2019. He offered a rare dissent in the AMU case and backed the abrogation of Article 370.
Kant’s tenure as CJI will stretch well into 2027.
Justice Abhay S Oka: Exit on the Horizon
With retirement looming on May 24, Justice Oka’s time on the Collegium is almost up. From practicing in Thane to leading the Karnataka High Court, his judicial footprint is wide. On the Supreme Court bench, he’s supported retrospective effect for CBI probe permissions and endorsed states’ rights to impose mining cesses.
Justice Vikram Nath: The Broadcaster
Justice Nath brought live-streaming to the Gujarat High Court before rising to the Supreme Court. Set to become CJI in 2027, he has tackled major questions of state power, such as the ED Director’s extended tenure and sub-categorization within reserved groups. His take? Creamy layers matter—but not all quotas are created equal.
Justice JK Maheshwari: Across the Map
From Madhya Pradesh to Sikkim, Maheshwari’s judicial career has spanned the country. Now in the Supreme Court till mid-2026, he has helped shape key rulings—allowing Supreme Court-ordered divorces under Article 142 and denying additional compensation in the Bhopal gas tragedy case.
Justice BV Nagarathna: A Landmark Awaits
In September 2027, Justice Nagarathna will make history. For 36 days, she will be the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of India—a symbolic moment decades in the making. Daughter of a former CJI, her rise reflects both legacy and merit. Known for her fierce dissents, including a sharp rebuke of the 2016 demonetisation process, she’s made clear she won’t hesitate to speak independently.
With only a single transition during Gavai’s six-month leadership, the Collegium is expected to remain steady, yet significant. Though the names don’t shift much, the ideas, legacies, and legal philosophies they carry will continue shaping the judiciary long after these brief tenures conclude.