2025: A Year of Change for the Supreme Court of India
The year 2025 promises to be a milestone for the Supreme Court of India, marked by leadership transitions and significant retirements. It will see three Chief Justices at the helm and bid farewell to seven esteemed judges.
Chief Justices in 2025
Justice Sanjeev Khanna, the current Chief Justice, will retire on May 13, 2025. Appointed to the Supreme Court on January 18, 2019, from the Delhi High Court, his tenure as Chief Justice began on November 11, 2024.
He will be succeeded by Justice B.R. Gavai, who will serve as Chief Justice for a brief six-month term until November 28, 2025. Later in the year, Justice Suryakant will take over, leading the apex court until February 2027.
Retirements of Distinguished Judges
The year will also witness the departure of seven judges whose contributions have left an indelible mark on the judiciary:
1. Justice C.T. Ravi Kumar
The first to retire on January 5, 2025, Justice Ravi Kumar served over three years in the Supreme Court, having joined from the Kerala High Court on August 31, 2021.
2. Justice Hrishikesh Roy
Justice Roy, known for his tenure as Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court and service in the Kerala High Court, will retire on January 31. He has been a Supreme Court judge since September 23, 2019.
3. Justice Abhay Srinivas Oka
After over three years on the bench, Justice Oka, who was appointed on August 31, 2021, from the Karnataka High Court, will retire on May 24, 2025.
4. Justice Bela Madhurya Trivedi
Justice Trivedi, the lone woman among the retiring judges, will step down on June 9, 2025. She joined the Supreme Court on August 31, 2021, after serving in the Gujarat High Court.
5. Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia
With a tenure marked by his service in the Gauhati High Court and the Uttarakhand High Court, Justice Dhulia will retire on August 9, 2025, after being elevated to the Supreme Court on May 9, 2022.
These transitions mark the end of illustrious judicial careers and herald a new era of leadership in India’s highest court, ensuring its continued commitment to justice and constitutional values.
