CJI Bhushan Gavai Declares No Government Roles Post-Retirement

On Friday, Chief Justice Bhushan Gavai made a significant announcement, stating that he will not accept any government positions or roles that offer benefits after his retirement. He expressed a desire to spend most of his post-retirement life in Dadarapur, Amaravati, and Nagpur. This statement was made during his first visit to his ancestral village since taking office as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. He remarked, 'I have decided that I will not accept any government position after retirement... I will have more time, so I will try to spend more time in Dadarapur, Amaravati, and Nagpur.'

A large crowd gathered in the village to welcome Chief Justice Gavai. Upon his arrival, he reminisced about his childhood and became emotional while visiting his old home, sharing many poignant memories from his early years. Earlier, while speaking at a roundtable conference at the Supreme Court of the UK, Chief Justice Gavai emphasized that he and his colleagues at the Supreme Court are committed to maintaining public trust in the judicial system by refusing any government roles after retirement. He noted that if a judge takes up a government position immediately after retirement or resigns to contest elections, it raises significant ethical concerns and invites public scrutiny. Such appointments can undermine public confidence in the integrity of the judiciary, as it may create the impression that judicial decisions were influenced by future government roles or political involvement.

Former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi became a member of the Rajya Sabha just four months after retiring from the Supreme Court. Additionally, former Calcutta High Court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay resigned from his position to join the BJP and contest in the Lok Sabha elections. He is now serving as an MP from the Tamluk constituency.