CJI Gavai describes himself as “truly secular”, says he believes in all religions, practices Buddhis
New Delhi: Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai on Thursday said he considers himself “a truly secular person” who believes in all religions while personally practising Buddhism. He made these remarks at a farewell event organised by the Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association ahead of his demitting office.
Speaking at the gathering, the CJI also highlighted that the long-pending chamber allotment issue, stalled for several years, was resolved within just “two or three meetings” after he, Justice Surya Kant and Justice Maheshwari joined the chamber allotment committee. He emphasised that both the SCBA and SCAORA were always kept in the loop on issues concerning the legal fraternity.
Referring to his last working day, the Chief Justice said he felt “a sense of relief” after pronouncing two significant judgments earlier in the day: the Constitution Bench opinion in the Presidential Reference on the powers of Governors and the President regarding bill assent, and another verdict related to the Aravalli hill ranges.
Justice Gavai shared that although he practices Buddhism, he does not possess deep religious scholarship. Describing his secular outlook, he said he believes in Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Islam, a perspective he attributes to his father, an ardent follower of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
He added that he knows “a bit of the Dhammapada” but not in depth, reiterating that his approach to religion is rooted in a broad, inclusive understanding.
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Indian visa application centre suspended indefinitely in Bangladesh's Chattogram
Dhaka (PTI): India on Sunday suspended visa operations at its mission in Bangladeshi port city of Chattogram until further notice, according to media reports.
The move comes in the wake of a fresh wave of unrest witnessed in the country following the death of prominent youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi.
His death triggered attacks and vandalism across Bangladesh, including stone-hurling at the Assistant Indian High Commissioner's residence in Chattogram on Thursday.
Hadi, a prominent leader of the student-led protests last year that led to the ouster of the prime minister Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, was a candidate for the scheduled February 12 general elections.
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He was shot in the head on December 12 by masked gunmen at an election campaign in central Dhaka’s Bijoynagar area and died while undergoing treatment in Singapore on December 18.
“Due to the recent security incident at Assistant High Commission of India (AHCI) Chittagong, Indian visa operations at IVAC Chittagong (Chattogram) will remain suspended from 21/12/2025 until further notice,” the Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) said in a brief statement.
The announcement for reopening the visa centre will be made after reviewing the situation, the statement added. The decision came into effect on Sunday.
There are five IVAC facilities across Bangladesh at Dhaka, Khulna, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Sylhet. An IVAC official told PTI that the other four offices have remained operational as of Sunday.
India on Thursday resumed operations at its visa application centre in Dhaka, a day after closing it over escalated security concerns, but closed for a brief period two other identical facilities in Rajshahi and Khulna as anti-India protestors tried to march towards the Indian missions there.
On Saturday, security was strengthened at the Indian Assistant High Commission office and the visa application centre in Bangladesh's Sylhet city.
The enhanced security measures were put in place to ensure that “no third party can exploit the situation,” Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) of the Sylhet Metropolitan Police Saiful Islam was quoted as saying by The Dhaka Tribune newspaper on Saturday.
Hadi, 32, was laid to rest on Saturday amid extra-tight security beside the grave of National Poet Kazi Nazrul Islam near the Dhaka University mosque.
Tens of thousands of people attended the funeral prayers, and ahead of the ritual, chanted anti-India slogans like “Delhi or Dhaka - Dhaka, Dhaka” and “brother Hadi’s blood will not be allowed to go in vain.”
Earlier on December 17, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) summoned Bangladesh envoy Riaz Hamidullah and conveyed its strong concern over certain extremist elements announcing plans to create a security situation around the Indian mission in Dhaka.
“We expect the interim government to ensure the safety of Missions and Posts in Bangladesh in keeping with its diplomatic obligations,” it said.
The envoy was apprised of India's strong concerns about the deteriorating security environment in Bangladesh, it added.
