Chief Justice Gavai Reflects on Personal Journey and Judicial Responsibility

Emotional Reflections from Chief Justice Gavai

On Friday, Chief Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai became emotional while sharing personal experiences, shedding light on aspects of his life that are rarely discussed publicly.

With tears in his eyes and a choked voice, he recounted how his father's aspirations significantly influenced his life choices. He expressed, 'I had dreams of becoming an architect, but my father envisioned a different path for me. He always wanted me to pursue law, a dream he could not fulfill himself.'

Justice Gavai recently took the oath as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. He was addressing an event organized by the Nagpur District Court Bar Association in his honor.

While discussing the impact of his parents on his life, Chief Justice Gavai became visibly emotional. He shared, 'My father dedicated himself to the service of Ambedkar. He aspired to be a lawyer, but his dreams were thwarted when he was arrested for participating in the freedom movement.'

He added, 'We lived in a joint family with many children, and the burden of responsibilities fell on my mother and aunt.' To honor his father's wishes, he sacrificed his dream of becoming an architect.

Justice Gavai recalled, 'Later, when my name was recommended for a judgeship in the High Court, my father advised me that if I remained a lawyer, I would only chase money. However, if I became a judge, I would follow the path laid out by Ambedkar and serve society.'

He noted that his father hoped he would one day become the Chief Justice of India, a vision his father did not live to see. 'We lost him in 2015, but I am grateful that my mother is still with us,' he remarked.

Recognizing the emotional atmosphere among the audience, the Chief Justice lightened the mood by sharing a humorous incident involving actress Hema Malini, who faced a cheque bounce case at the Nagpur District Court, where he represented her as a lawyer.

He chuckled, 'That day, the courtroom was packed with people eager to catch a glimpse of Hema Malini, but we couldn't resist enjoying that moment amidst the crowd.'

Discussing the judiciary, Chief Justice Gavai emphasized the importance of judicial activism while cautioning against it turning into judicial overreach or terrorism. He stated, 'There are defined boundaries for the three branches of Indian democracy—legislature, executive, and judiciary. Each must operate within the law and its provisions. When Parliament exceeds its authority, the judiciary may intervene.'

He concluded, 'While I advocate for judicial activism, it must not be allowed to morph into judicial overreach or terrorism.'