Published 18:25 IST, March 17th 2020
BIG: Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi explains why he accepted his nomination to Rajya Sabha
Explaining RS nomination ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi, on Tuesday, said that his presence in the parliament will help in putting judiciary's views to it and vice versa
Breaking his silence as to why he has accepted the Rajya Sabha nomination, former CJI Ranjan Gogoi, on Tuesday, said that his presence in the parliament will help in putting judiciary's views to it and vice versa, in an interview with a leading Assamese News channel. He also reportedly said that he had given ample time before taking the decision to accept the nomination. Earlier in the day, Gogoi said that he will speak in detail to the media about it after taking oath in Delhi on Wednesday.
Gogoi: 'Will put views of judiciary to legislative'
"My presence in Parliament will be an opportunity to project the views of the Judiciary before the legislature and vice versa. I have accepted the nomination to the Rajya Sabha because of a strong conviction that the legislature and judiciary must at some point work for nation-building," he said to a leading Assamese News channel. He added that he hopes to be an independent voice in the Parliament.
President Kovind nominates Gogoi as Rajya Sabha MP
On Monday evening, President Ramnath Kovind nominated former CJI Gogoi as a Rajya Sabha MP. The President has under clause (1) of Article 80 of the Constitution, nominated the former CJI to fill the vacancy in Rajya Sabha due to the retirement of one of the nominated members. Gogoi had retired after pronouncing the historic Ayodhya verdict. 51 seats in Rajya Sabha will fall vacant in April, five more in June, one in July, and 11 in November this year.
About Ranjan Gogoi
Ranjan Gogoi- 46th Chief Justice of India is the son of former Assam chief minister Kesab Chandra Gogoi and completed his law from Delhi University. At first he enrolled in Gauhati High Court in 1978 practising constitutional, taxation and company matters. He was then transferred to the Punjab and Haryana High Court - where he rose to the post of Chief Justice. Later he was elevated as a judge in the Supreme Court on 23 April 2012 and subsequently succeeded then-CJI Dipak Misra on 3 October 2018.
Gogoi gave judgment on several landmark cases namely - Ayodhya dispute land case, review judgment in the Rafale case, contempt case against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, CJI office under RTI, Sabarimala review verdict. He retired on 17 November after pronouncing the Ayodhya judgment. He was succeeded by Justic S A Bobde.
Updated 18:25 IST, March 17th 2020