Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi takes oath as Rajya Sabha Member in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Several members of the Congress, which has criticized his nomination, shouted ‘shame’ and ‘deal’ as the former CJI took the oath.
Gogoi, retired as CJI last November after a tenure of a little over 13 months. He will be the first former CJI to be nominated to Rajya Sabha, with opposition parties kicking up controversy and criticizing his appointment. He headed benches that pronounced several key judgements, including in the sensitive Ayodhya land dispute case. He also led the benches that ruled on the Rafale fighter jet deal and the entry of women in Kerala’s Sabarimala temple.
Gogoi was accused of sexual harassment allegations by the former Supreme Court employee but he rejected the allegations and described it as a conspiratorial attempt to hamper the independence of the judiciary and a three-judge internal investigation committee cleared him, a month later.
