11 judges from Backwards Classes, 10 from Scheduled Castes, appointed during CJI Gavai's tenure

During Chief Justice of India BR Gavai's tenure of over six months, ten judges from the Scheduled Caste category, eleven from Other Backwards Classes and Backwards Classes were appointed to different High Courts in India. Gavai, the first Buddhist and second Dalit CJI of India, headed the three-member collegium of the apex court, which recommended 129 names to the government for appointment as judges of different high courts, out of which 93 names were cleared. The names cleared by the government for the high court also included 15 women judges. In fine balance: An assessment of Justice Gavai's raj Five judges -- Justices NV Anjaria, Vijay Bishnoi, AS Chandurkar, Alok Aradhe and Vipul Manubhai Pancholi -- were also appointed to the Supreme Court during his tenure. Justice Gavai has delivered remarkable verdicts, including those that stayed key provisions of the Waqf law and allowed the Centre to grant post facto green nods to projects. Gavai had justified his recent landmark verdict quashing key provisions of the 2021 Tribunals Reforms law, saying independence of the judiciary is the basic structure of the Constitution, and freedom of tribunals cannot be compromised. Overwhelmed by tributes pouring in on his last working day (Friday), CJI said he was leaving the institution with a full sense of satisfaction and contentment and as a 'student of justice' on concluding four decades of journey as a lawyer and a judge. CJI Gavai is set to demit office tomorrow and his successor Justice Surya Kant, will be sworn in as the next Chief Justice of India on November 24. 'Constitution of India a living document capable of evolving with changing times,' says CJI Gavai