“No Government Post After Retirement”: CJI Bhushan Gavai Sets Bold Ethical Benchmark for Judiciary

Amravati: In a powerful and emotionally resonant homecoming, Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai declared that he will not accept any government post or political position after his retirement — a stance that sharply contrasts with recent precedents and has reignited the national conversation on post-retirement ethics for judges.

Speaking during his first visit to his native village, Darapur in Amravati district, since assuming office as the 51st Chief Justice of India, CJI Gavai was welcomed with warmth and pride by a large crowd of locals. While addressing the gathering, he made it clear that he intends to spend his post-retirement years quietly in Darapur, Amravati, and Nagpur, away from the corridors of power.

“I have decided that I will not accept any government position after my retirement. I want to return to my roots and spend more time with my people and my memories,” said an emotional Gavai, recalling his childhood and visiting his ancestral home where he shared poignant stories of his early life.

His statement, however, goes beyond personal sentiment—it signals a principled stand in the ongoing debate about judicial neutrality and post-retirement rewards. CJI Gavai had earlier raised this issue during a legal roundtable at the UK Supreme Court, where he emphasized that judges must avoid actions that could be perceived as compromising judicial independence.

“If a judge accepts a government appointment immediately after retirement, or resigns to join politics, it raises serious ethical questions. It may create a perception that judgments were delivered to curry favor for future roles,” he had said.

This firm position has drawn comparisons with former CJI Ranjan Gogoi, who accepted a Rajya Sabha nomination just four months after demitting office, and Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who resigned from the Calcutta High Court and contested — and won — the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat on a BJP ticket.