Gogoi’s Rajya Sabha berth draws criticism from ex-judges

New Delhi, March 17

Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Tuesday defended his decision to accept Rajya Sabha nomination, saying he wanted the legislature and judiciary to work towards nation-building. He said he would speak at length on the issue after taking oath as Rajya Sabha member.

“I have accepted the offer because of strong conviction that the legislature and judiciary must, at some point of time, work together for nation-building. My presence in Parliament will be an opportunity to project the views of the judiciary before the legislature and vice versa,” he said.

But several former judges are not convinced. “This judge (Justice Gogoi) has destroyed the independence of the judiciary,” former Delhi High Court Chief Justice AP Shah told The Tribune. “It sends out the message that if a judge gives judgments in favour of the executive, he/she will be rewarded.”

Former Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph, who held an unprecedented press meet on January 12, 2018, along with Justice Gogoi, Justice J Chelameswar and Justice Madan B Lokur, to highlight the threat to judicial independence, alleged that the former CJI had compromised the noble principles on the independence and impartiality of the judiciary. But former CJI KG Balakrishnan refrained from any criticism.

Justice Gogoi presided over Benches that pronounced judgments on Ayodhya, Rafale jet deal and the Sabarimala Temple case.

“The judiciary thrives on perception and faith. That faith has been shaken,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Manu Singhvi said.

He countered BJP’s reference to Ranganath Misra’s nomination, saying he was appointed to the Rajya Sabha six years after he demitted office as the CJI. — TNS

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