Delhi; 17 March 2020 (UMM): Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has been nominated to Rajya Sabha, Ministry of Home Affairs has Notified on 16 March 2020.
Justice Gogoi's tenure as CJI was marked by some controversies reflected in the last few days when benches headed by him delivered some path-breaking judgments, including Mosque dispute in Ayodhya. He etched his name in the Indian history when a five-judge bench headed by him on November 9 gave Hindus the 2.77 acre disputed land for construction of Ram Temple – the land on which stood a medieval mosque which dated back to even before the Supreme Court came into existence in 1950.
According to India Today 16 March 2020 Justice Gogoi's nomination has drawn some sharp reactions from the Opposition. Many leaders of opposition parties suggested that Gogoi's nomination was quid pro quo.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala also shared images of two news stories with a tagline "Picture says it all". The two headlines suggested that Gogoi's nomination to Rajya Sabha casts a doubt on judiciary's impartiality.
"I hope ex-cji Ranjan Gogoi would have the good sense to say 'NO' to the offer of Rajya Sabha seat to him. Otherwise he will cause incalculable damage to the reputation of the judiciary," disgruntled BJP leader and former Union minister Yashwant Sinha said on Twitter.
Aam Adami Party's Raghav Chadha also questioned Ranjan Gogoi's nomination, "This will not merely set a bad precedent but will cause irreparable damage to the independence of the judiciary."
Sharing a cropped image of the official gazette notifying Ranjan Gogoi's nomination, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said: "Is it quid pro quo? How will people have faith in the Independence of Judges ? Many Questions"
Separation of powers btw the legislature, executive & judiciary is part of the basic structure of our Constitution - which this Govt has systematically dismantled & damaged, reported India Today.
