Former CJI Gogoi nominated to RS

New Delhi, March 16

Barely four months after he demitted the office of the Chief Justice of India, Justice Ranjan Gogoi was on Monday nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Ram Nath Kovind.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (a) of Clause (1), Article 80, of the Constitution of India, read with Clause (3) of that Article, the President is pleased to nominate Shri Ranjan Gogoi to the Council of States to fill the vacancy caused due to the retirement of one of the nominated members,” a notification issued by the government announced. Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who served as the 46th Chief Justice of India, had demitted office on November 17 – eight days after delivering a historic verdict that paved the way for construction of a Ram Temple at Ayodhya. He had also faced allegations of sexual harassment from a woman employee of the Supreme Court. But he was exonerated after an inquiry.

He is the second ex-CJI to become a member of the Rajya Sabha after Justice Rangnath Misra from the Congress between 1998 and 2004.

Earlier, ex-CJI P Sathasivam was appointed Kerala Governor in September 2014, five months after his retirement.

Justice M Hidayatullah – who was the 11th CJI – was also elected Vice President of India – almost nine years after demitting the highest judicial office. — TNS