Justice BV Nagarathna to become India's first Woman Chief Justice

By: WE Staff | Tuesday, 27 May 2025

• Justice BV Nagarathna to be appointed as India’s First Woman CJ
• Justice BV Nagarathna to serve as the 55^th Chief Justice of India w.e.f September 2027

Justice BV Nagarathna will become India's first woman Chief Justice in September 2027, serving as the 55th Chief Justice of India. She will have a brief 36-day tenure, starting from September 24 to October 29, 2027. Justice Nagarathna joined the Supreme Court Collegium in May 2025, following the retirement of Justice Abhay S Oka.

The Collegium, responsible for judicial appointments and transfers, now comprises Chief Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, Justice Surya Kant, Justice Vikram Nath, Justice J K Maheshwari, and Justice Nagarathna.

Justice Nagarathna, the daughter of former Chief Justice E.S. Venkataramiah, a distinguished lawyer, began her legal journey in 1987 with a career in constitutional and commercial law, associated with Kesava and Co. advocates. She later transitioned to independent practice in 1994, focusing on constitutional, administrative, commercial, and family law. She was appointed as an additional judge of the Karnataka High Court in 2008 and later as a permanent judge in 2010 due to her expertise.

She was later elevated to the Supreme Court of India on 31 August 2021. Her appointment was a part of a historic cohort that included Justices Hima Kohli and Bela M. Trivedi, marking the largest group of women judges appointed to the Supreme Court at the same time.

According to sources, CJI Gavai is set to convene his inaugural collegium meeting to address vacancies in the top court and make crucial appointments in several high courts. The collegium system, established in 1993, recommends the appointment, transfer, and elevation of judges to the Supreme Court and 25 high courts.