Chief Justice of India, List from 1950 to 2025, Tenure

The Chief Justice of India (CJI) is the head of the judiciary body of India and responsible for safeguarding the constitutional provision and justice to all the citizens of India. Each appointed CJI has a unique approach to the roles and responsibilities towards the legal system during their tenure. Since the establishment of the Supreme Court on 26 January 1950, 51 judges have served as CJI. Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is the 52nd Chief Justice of India appointed on 14 May 2025.

Chief Justice of India

Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai assumed office as the 52nd Chief Justice of India on 14 May 2025 and is set to retire on 23 November 2025 after serving for a tenure of six months. Known for his balanced judgments and commitment to justice, he has played an influential role in shaping modern Indian jurisprudence. His appointment marked a milestone, as he became the first Scheduled Caste judge in the Supreme Court in nearly a decade.

List of Chief Justice of India from 1950-2025

Since its establishment in 1950, the Supreme Court of India has been led by 52 Chief Justices, each playing a vital role in shaping the country’s judicial system. Below is the complete List of Chief Justice of India from 1950-2025:

Chief Justice of India Appointment Process

The Constitution does not specifically outline the Chief Justice of India Appointment Process (CJI), but over time, conventions and seniority have guided the selection.

1. Seniority Principle: The senior-most Supreme Court judge is usually recommended for the position.
2. Recommendation Process: The outgoing CJI suggests their successor based on seniority.
3. Executive Approval: The Union Law Minister forwards the recommendation to the Prime Minister, who advises the President for final approval.
4. Exceptions: In 1973 and 1977, seniority was bypassed, but a 1993 ruling reinforced the convention of appointing the senior-most judge.

First Chief Justice of India 

Justice Harilal Jekisundas Kania became First Chief Justice of India on January 26, 1950, and served until his passing on November 6, 1951. As the first head of the Supreme Court, which replaced the Federal Court of India, Justice Kania played a key role in shaping the country’s judicial system after independence. His tenure was crucial in establishing judicial independence and interpreting the newly adopted Constitution. The decisions made under his leadership set important legal precedents, laying the foundation for the Supreme Court’s functioning in the years to come.

Current Chief Justice of India

As the 52nd Chief Justice of India, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai oversees the functioning of the judiciary, allocation of cases, and constitution of benches. His tenure has been marked by significant rulings emphasizing fairness, due process, and constitutional balance. He has been part of several Constitution Benches that upheld the abrogation of Article 370 and struck down the electoral bonds scheme.

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Justice Gavai has also contributed to landmark judgments on criminal law, service matters, and civil rights. He authored opinions promoting procedural justice, emphasizing the need for proportionality and fairness in executive actions.

Notable Judgments by Chief Justice B.R. Gavai:

• Demonetisation Case (2023): Justice Gavai authored the majority opinion for the five-judge Constitution Bench that upheld the legality of the 2016 demonetisation policy in a 4:1 ruling.
• Rahul Gandhi Defamation Case (2023): As the head of a three-judge bench, Justice Gavai stayed Rahul Gandhi’s conviction. He noted that the trial court failed to provide sufficient reasons for imposing the maximum sentence, which led to Gandhi’s disqualification from the Lok Sabha.
• Teesta Setalvad Bail Case (2023): A bench led by Justice Gavai granted activist Teesta Setalvad regular bail. The bench quashed the Gujarat High Court’s order, calling its reasoning “perverse and contradictory”
• Article 370 Verdict (2023): Justice Gavai was part of the five-judge Constitution Bench that unanimously upheld the Union government’s decision to abrogate Article 370. He joined the lead judgment authored by then-CJI D.Y. Chandrachud.
• Demolition Guidelines (2024): A bench led by Justice Gavai issued pan-India guidelines against arbitrary “bulldozer” demolitions. The court ruled that such actions without due process violate the rule of law and infringe upon the fundamental right to shelter under Article 21. 

Next Chief Justice of India

Upon Justice Gavai’s retirement on 23 November 2025, Justice Surya Kant will become the 53rd Chief Justice of India. He is currently the second senior-most judge of the Supreme Court and will serve till February 2027. Justice Kant has authored key rulings on constitutional and criminal law, including cases on Article 370, the Citizenship Act, and governor powers.

Succeeding Chief Justices of India (2025-2033)

If the seniority principle continues to guide appointments, the following eight judges will successively serve as Chief Justices of India (CJI) from 2025 to 2033. Each of these judges has made significant contributions to the Indian judiciary through landmark judgments and constitutional interpretation. The list below highlights their expected tenures, judicial achievements, and key constitutional moments, including the historic appointment of the first female CJI.