New Delhi, May 15 -- Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai was on Wednesday sworn in as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. He was administered oath by President Droupadi Murmu at a brief ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Justice Gavai took the oath of affirmation in Hindi. He succeeds Justice Sanjiv Khanna, who demitted office on Tuesday on attaining the age of 65 years.

Gavai, India's 52nd Chief Justice and its first Buddhist one, has played a key role in shaping the judicial landscape, penning about 300 verdicts, including landmark rulings on constitutional issues, liberty, and perhaps most importantly against the executive's "bulldozer justice".

Justice Gavai, the second Dalit after KG Balakrishnan to head the Indian judiciary. He was elevate...