Justices Lalit, Sanjiv Khanna & I've Attempted To Dispel Notion That Supreme Court Is 'CJI's Court' : CJI BR Gavai

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai recently sought to dispel the impression that the Supreme Court is the "CJI's Court" by saying that it is a court of all decisions.

Underscoring that the administrative decisions of the Supreme Court are taken by the full court and not solely by the Chief Justice, CJI Gavai said that he was following the attempts made by his predecessors, particularly Justices UU Lalit and Sanjiv Khanna, to dispel the notion that the Supreme Court is the CJI's Court.

"Like Justices Khanna and Lalit, I too am a firm believer in the principle that a CJI is only the "first among the equals" and not the "Master of the Supreme Court.

There is a growing belief that the SC is a CJI's court and not the court of all the judges. But I must say, with a matter of pride that Justices Lalit and Khanna and even I have attempted to dispel this notion," CJI Gavai said on Saturday at Nagpur at a felicitation organised by the High Court Bar Association of Nagpur, his hometown.

He mentioned in his speech that immediately after Justice Khanna assumed the office of the CJI, a full court meeting was held. Likewise, he also held a full court meeting after becoming the CJI and took everyone's opinions. Certain administrative decisions taken by the Supreme Court recently are of the full court and not of the CJI alone.

"Like Justice Khanna, after taking over as a CJI, I too held a "full-court" meeting and took some decisions by taking in view everyone's opinions. Some decisions were taken by the SC on May 15, 2025 and those were of the entire Supreme Court and not of the CJI Gavai," he said.

Recently, the Supreme Court removed the glass panels installed in the corridors last year. The Court clarified in a press release that this decision was taken by the full court, taking into account the grievances raised by the bar as well as the need to restore the "original grandeur" of the Supreme Court.

Judicial activism arises when other branches of the State fail

In his address, CJI Gavai said that the need for judicial activism arose due to the failure of the other brances.

"I always felt that judicial activism was necessary because whenever the executive of the legislature fails, the judiciary has to step in as a custodian of the rights of the citizens. I also felt that all the three wings must work in the spheres allotted to them. Though judicial activism is there to stay, it should never convert into judicial adventurism or judicial terrorism. I still believe in same principles," he said.

Judgeship isn't a job but it's a service to society and to the nation, CJI Gavai said, adding that he always put himself in the role of the student and learnt from everyone around me.

CJI also said that in matter of judicial appointments, the Collegium is trying to follow transparency and maintain seniority and merit.

"We are following transparency, we are interacting with the candidates and we find that interactions work their way out. We have tried to maintain seniority and merit. A living example of this is the appointment of Justice Atul Chandurkar to the Supreme Court," he said.

Also from the event - Not All Recommendations Of SC Collegium Are Acted Upon Due To 'External Forces': Justice Dipankar Datta