New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi took oath as a member of Rajya Sabha on Thursday even as Congress resorted to shouting slogans criticising the move of his appointment to the RS and also staged a walkout in the middle of the oath.
Along with the chants of ‘shame’, the Congress members also said that the appointment is an ‘assault’ on the independence of the judiciary.
Welcoming Justice Gogoi, union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said: “Rajya Sabha has a great tradition of many eminent persons coming from diverse fields, including former Chief Justices. Justice Gogoi who has taken oath today will surely contribute his best. It was grossly unfair to do that (Congress walkout).”
Justice Gogoi retired as the country’s top judge just four months ago.
Amidst ccriticism to his appointment, Justice Gogoi defended taking up the role saying his presence in parliament will “be an opportunity to project the views of the judiciary before the legislative and vice versa”.
“I have accepted it since I have a strong conviction that the legislative and the 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,” he said on Tuesday.
Justice Gogoi was part of many landmark judgments, including the Ayodhya verdict in which the Supreme Court handed over the disputed site claimed by both Hindus and Muslims for a Ram temple and ordered a different site for a mosque.
Justice Gogoi’s wife Rupanjali Gogoi, daughter, and son-in-law were present in parliament.
