Ranjan Gogoi, who retired as Chief Justice of India just four months ago, was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Ram Nath Kovind on March 16.
New Delhi| Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi took oath as a member of Rajya Sabha today amid jeers and chants of “shame” from the Congress and other opposition parties that believe the appointment smacks of quid pro quo and severely compromises the independence of the judiciary.
All opposition parties except the Samajwadi Party walked out in protest in the middle of the oath.
“They will welcome me very soon,” Justice Gogoi said later, unfazed by the unprecedented booing during his swearing-in.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad came to Justice Gogoi’s defence saying: “Rajya Sabha has a great tradition of many eminent persons coming from diverse fields, including former Chief Justices. Justice Gogoi who has taken oath today will surely contribute his best. It was grossly unfair to do that (Congress walkout).”
The chairperson of the Rajya Sabha, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, said there were established rules and precedents for the appointment and the opposition was not right to behave this way.
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His nomination to Rajya Sabha was heavily criticized by the opposition with AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi asking whether it was a Quid Pro Quo.
Ranjan Gogoi during his tenure as Chief Justice of India had headed benches that delivered verdicts in key cases including Ayodhya land dispute, Article 370 Abrogation, Operation Kamal In Karnataka among others.
Ranjan Gogoi, aged 65, retired as the chief justice of India in November of last year after a tenure of 13 months. During his time in the Supreme Court, the court delivered landmark judgements on the decriminalisation of homosexuality, the entry of women in Kerala’s Sabarimala temple and the Rafale jet deal along with Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC).
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