India, Oct. 24 -- As the tenure of Chief Justice of India Bhusan R Gavai is nearing its end, he has been asked by the Union law ministry to recommend a name for his successor. This marks the initiation of the formal process to appoint the next Chief Justice of India.

CJI BR Gavai will retire next month on November 23. To kickstart the process of appointing the new CJI, the current head of the Indian judiciary is asked by the law ministry to recommend a name of his successor around a month ahead of the end of their tenure. The CJI then recommends the name of the senior-most judge of the Supreme Court, "considered fit to hold the office".

After CJI Gavai, Justice Surya Kant is reportedly in line to succeed him to the highest judiciary pos...