Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi took oath as a member of Rajya Sabha today in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah.
During his oath, Congress and other opposition party members chanted "shame" and "deal" criticizing the Rajya Sabha nomination and walked out of the house.
Congress claims that this appointment will endanger the independence of the judiciary. 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 an oath today will surely contribute his best."
Vice President Venkaiah Naidu criticized opposition's walkout saying that it is not the right way to behave.President Ram Nath Govind nominated Ranjan Gogoi to become a member of the Rajya Sabha on March 16. Ranjan Gogoi becomes the first former CJI to get nominated as a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Former Justice Gogoi was a part of many large landmark judgments such as the Ayodhya Judgement, Rafale view, Private Bank employees judgement and many more.
A notification issued by the home ministry said, "In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (a) of clause (1) of Article 80 of the Constitution of India, read with clause (3) of that article, the President is pleased to nominate Shri Ranjan Gogoi to the Council of States to fill the vacancy caused due to the retirement of one of the nominated members."
The Former Justice on accepting the position said, "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."