Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, whose nomination to Rajya Sabha has been questioned by many parties, on Tuesday said he would speak in detail about accepting the offer of a seat to the Upper House after he takes the oath. Briefly talking to reporters who went to meet him at his residence in Guwahati, Gogoi said: “I will go to Delhi probably tomorrow.”
“Let me first take the oath, then I will speak in detail to the media why I accepted this and why I am going to Rajya Sabha,” he said. In a gazette notification on Monday, President Ram Nath Kovind nominated Gogoi to the Council of States to fill the vacancy caused due to the retirement of one of the nominated members.
“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 nation-building. My presence in parliament will be an opportunity to project the views of the judiciary before the legislature and vice versa,” said Gogoi.
“Let God give me the strength to have an independent voice in the parliament”, the former CJI said, adding, “I have much to say, but let me take the oath in the parliament and then I shall open up,” he said in an interview to a local TV channel in Assam.
Gogoi 4th CJI to accept a political position
Ranjan Gogoi is the fourth Chief Justice of India who accepted the post-retirement Constitutional posts. Mohammad Hidayatullah became Vice President of India in 1979 as a consensus candidate of major political parties. In 1998, Ranganath Misra became Rajya Sabha Member as Congress candidate. In 2014, P Sathasivam also accepted the post of Governor in Kerala.
Normally Chief Justices of India (CJI) will accept only the Chairman post of National Human Rights Commission as only former CJIs are mandated to head the organization.
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President took good decision to nominate him. Mr. Gogoi will contribute & bring some judicial insight into Rajya Sabha which has lost & forgotten the flavor of debating.