Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on Thursday said that although he practises Buddhism as his personal faith, he considers himself a truly secular individual who respects and believes in every religion, including Hinduism, Sikhism, Islam and others. His remarks came during his farewell ceremony organised by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA), ahead of his last working day in Court No. 1.
‘I was raised to respect all faiths,’ says CJI Gavai
Recalling his upbringing, CJI Gavai said he inherited secular values from his father, who was both an erudite follower of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar and a genuinely secular person.
He shared that as a child, he accompanied his father to various political engagements, where he was introduced to diverse religious spaces.
“Whenever he used to visit various places for his political functions, his friends would ask him to visit a famous dargah or a gurudwara. I have been brought up that way, to respect all religions,” he said.
The Chief Justice emphasised that practicing Buddhism never restricted him from admiring or believing in other faiths. Instead, his background instilled in him a deep sense of inclusivity and harmony.
Farewell before retirement on November 23
CJI Gavai’s official retirement is scheduled for November 23. However, with the Supreme Court set to remain closed over the weekend, November 21 will be his final working day as the country’s top judge.
Addressing the gathering, he said that his nearly two-decade-long judicial journey had been shaped entirely by the institution.
“Whatever I am today is because of this institution of the judiciary. I must pay my gratitude to this institution,” he said.
‘The Constitution made my journey possible’
Reflecting on his rise—from studying in a municipal school to becoming the Chief Justice of India—Gavai said his journey was made possible by the Indian Constitution and its guiding values of justice, liberty, equality and fraternity.
“These ideals have stayed with me throughout,” he noted, acknowledging how the Constitution created space for social mobility and equal opportunity.
He also credited his six months as CJI and six and a half years as a Supreme Court judge to the “collective strength” of the judiciary.
‘Supreme Court is never about one individual’
In his farewell message, CJI Gavai stressed that the Supreme Court must never be centred around any single individual, including the Chief Justice himself.
He underlined the importance of collective decision-making within the full court and said that the judiciary thrives through the contributions of all stakeholders—judges, lawyers, registry officials and staff members.
He also highlighted the need to involve bodies like the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and SCAORA in discussions related to bar welfare and institutional functioning.
Conclusion
CJI Gavai’s farewell remarks reflected humility, gratitude and a reaffirmation of secular values. As he prepares to demit office on November 23, he leaves behind a message of collective responsibility, institutional strength and constitutional faith—marking the end of a tenure rooted in inclusivity and service.