List Of Chief Justice Of India

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List Of Chief Justice Of India

India’s judicial history is richly shaped by the succession of Chief Justices who have headed its apex court since the Supreme Court’s inception on 26 January 1950. From the first Chief Justice, H. J. Kania, whose tenure helped lay the foundation of the newly independent Indian judiciary, to the current Chief Justice B. R. Gavai, each occupant of this office has influenced constitutional interpretation, legal precedent, and institutional integrity. This topic presents an accessible overview of the list of Chief Justices of India, highlighting notable tenures and milestones.

Early Chief Justices (1950–1970)

  • Harilal Jekisundas Kania (1st CJI): 26 January 1950 – 6 November 1951
  • M. Patanjali Sastri: 7 November 1951 – 3 January 1954
  • Mehr Chand Mahajan: 4 January 1954 – 22 December 1954
  • Bijan Kumar Mukherjea: 23 December 1954 – 31 January 1956
  • Sudhi Ranjan Das: 1 February 1956 – 30 September 1959
  • Bhuvneshwar Prasad Sinha: 1 October 1959 – 31 January 1964
  • P. B. Gajendragadkar: 1 February 1964 – 15 March 1966
  • A. K. Sarkar: 16 March 1966 – 29 June 1966
  • K. Subba Rao: 30 June 1966 – 11 April 1967
  • K. N. Wanchoo: 12 April 1967 – 24 February 1968
  • M. Hidayatullah (later Vice President of India): 25 February 1968 – 16 December 1970

During this era, the Supreme Court’s initial structure emerged and early constitutional interpretation took shape.

Chief Justices of the 1970s and 1980s

  • J. C. Shah: 17 December 1970 – 21 January 1971
  • S. M. Sikri: 22 January 1971 – 25 April 1973
  • A. N. Ray: 26 April 1973 – 28 January 1977
  • M. Hameedullah Beg: 29 January 1977 – 21 February 1978
  • Y. V. Chandrachud (India’s longest-serving CJI): 22 February 1978 – 11 July 1985
  • P. N. Bhagwati: 12 July 1985 – 20 December 1986
  • R. S. Pathak: 21 December 1986 – 18 June 1989
  • E. S. Venkataramiah: 19 June 1989 – 17 December 1989
  • Sabyasachi Mukherjee: 18 December 1989 – 24 November 1991

1990s to Early 2000s

  • Ranganath Misra: 25 September 1990 – 24 November 1991
  • K. N. Singh: 25 November 1991 – 12 December 1991
  • M. H. Kania: 13 December 1991 – 17 November 1992
  • L. M. Sharma: 18 November 1992 – 11 February 1993
  • M. N. Venkatachaliah: 12 February 1993 – 24 October 1994
  • A. M. Ahmadi: 25 October 1994 – 24 March 1997
  • J. S. Verma: 25 March 1997 – 17 January 1998
  • M. M. Punchhi: 18 January 1998 – 9 October 1998
  • A. S. Anand: 10 October 1998 – 31 October 2001
  • S. P. Bharucha: 1 November 2001 – 5 May 2002
  • B. N. Kirpal: 6 May 2002 – 7 November 2002
  • G. B. Pattanaik: 8 November 2002 – 18 December 2002
  • V. N. Khare: 19 December 2002 – 1 May 2004
  • S. Rajendra Babu: 2 May 2004 – 31 May 2004
  • R. C. Lahoti: 1 June 2004 – 31 October 2005
  • Y. K. Sabharwal: 1 November 2005 – 13 January 2007
  • K. G. Balakrishnan: 14 January 2007 – 12 May 2010

This period saw the Court address issues of judicial reform, human rights, and expansion of constitutional jurisprudence.

Recent Chief Justices (2010–2025)

  • S. H. Kapadia: 12 May 2010 – 28 September 2012
  • Altamas Kabir: 29 September 2012 – 18 July 2013
  • P. Sathasivam: 19 July 2013 – 26 April 2014
  • R. M. Lodha: 27 April 2014 – 27 September 2014
  • H. L. Dattu: 28 September 2014 – 2 December 2015
  • T. S. Thakur: 3 December 2015 – 27 August 2017
  • J. S. Khehar: 10 October 2017 – 2 October 2018
  • Dipak Mishra: 23 April 2012 – 17 November 2019 (including acting periods before confirmation)
  • Ranjan Gogoi: 12 April 2018 – 23 April 2021
  • Sharad Arvind Bobde: 17 February 2021 – 26 August 2022
  • N. V. Ramana: 13 August 2022 – 8 November 2022
  • U. U. Lalit (49th CJI): 27 August 2022 – 9 November 2022
  • D. Y. Chandrachud (50th CJI): 9 November 2022 – 10 November 2024
  • Sanjiv Khanna (51st CJI): 11 November 2024 – 13 May 2025
  • B. R. Gavai (52nd and current CJI): took oath 14 May 2025, will serve until retirement in November 2025

Significance and Observations

Over the decades, Chief Justices of India have steered the Supreme Court’s role in interpreting the Constitution, safeguarding fundamental rights, and shaping public policy. Long-serving CJI Y. V. Chandrachud oversaw landmark judgments on civil liberties, while recent CJIs such as D. Y. Chandrachud and B. R. Gavai have presided over sensitive cases involving electoral reforms, privacy rights, and regulatory challenges. The short tenure tradition based on seniority ensures regular leadership change and institutional continuity.

Notable Milestones

  • Y. V. Chandrachud remains the longest-serving CJI in India’s history.
  • U. U. Lalit was the second direct appointee from the Bar to become CJI.
  • B. R. Gavai is the first Buddhist to hold the office and the 52nd Chief Justice as of May 2025.

The list of Chief Justices of India reflects the evolution of the judicial institution over more than seven decades. From laying the initial groundwork under Justice Kania to integrating modern judicial practices under Chief Justices like Chandrachud and Gavai, each tenure contributes to the ongoing development of law and justice in India. This lineage underscores continuity amid change, embedding democratic values and constitutional governance at the heart of India’s highest court.