New Delhi, May 13: Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna will retire on Tuesday, concluding his term as the 51st Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

He took office on November 10, 2024, and will retire after serving for six months in this highest judicial position.

Justice Khanna has formally recommended Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, the second-most senior judge of the Supreme Court, to succeed him. The recommendation has been submitted to the Union Ministry of Law and Justice and approved by President Murmu. Justice Gavai is set to be sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India.

In line with judicial tradition, Justice Khanna will sit on a ceremonial bench with Justice Gavai, his successor.

The Supreme Court Bar Association will hold a formal ceremony to bid farewell to Justice Khanna, during which he is expected to deliver his farewell address.

Justice Gavai, who was appointed to the Supreme Court on May 24, 2019, will take office at the age of 64 and is expected to serve as Chief Justice until November 23, 2025, when he reaches the retirement age of 65 for Supreme Court judges.

Hailing from Amravati, Maharashtra, Justice Gavai began his legal career on March 16, 1985. He trained under Raja S. Bhonsale, a former Advocate General and High Court judge. Post-1990, he focused his practice at the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, specializing in Constitutional and Administrative Law.

He has held key public legal roles, including Assistant Government Pleader, Additional Public Prosecutor, and later, Government Pleader and Public Prosecutor for the Nagpur Bench.

Justice Gavai’s elevation to Chief Justice is a significant milestone, not only due to his vast experience but also as one of the few Chief Justices from a Scheduled Caste background, reflecting the judiciary’s growing inclusivity.