Huge row erupts on ex-CJI Gogoi’s nomination to RS

New Delhi/Guwahati, March 17: A row erupted on Tuesday over the nomination of former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to the Rajya Sabha with the Congress and other Opposition parties alleging that the “brazen action” by the government subsumes the independence of the judiciary.

As the Opposition parties raised questions, a former Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph expressed surprise and said Justice Gogoi’s acceptance of the nomination has shaken the confidence of the common man on the independence of judiciary.

Justice Joseph when asked by newsmen to give his reaction alleged that Justice Gogoi has “compromised noble principles” on the independence and impartiality of judiciary. Justice Joseph along with Justice Gogoi, Justice J. Chelameswar and Justice Madan B. Lokur had publicly questioned the leadership of the then CJI Dipak Misra in an unprecedented press conference,

Justice Gogoi, who retired in November last year, said he would speak in detail about accepting the nomination after he takes oath.

“Let me first take oath, then I will speak in detail to the media why I accepted this and why I am going to Rajya Sabha,” he told reporters in Guwahati.

On the criticism of his nomination, Justice Gogoi told a local television channel in Guwahati, “I have accepted the offer of the nomination to the Rajya Sabha because of a strong conviction that the legislature and judiciary must at some point of time work together for nationbuilding.”

“My presence in Parliament will be an opportunity to project the views of the judiciary before the legislature and vice versa,” he said.