Ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi Takes Oath As RS Member Amidst Opposition Protests

New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi took oath on Thursday as Rajya Sabha member. Gogoi retired as CJI four months ago. The oath-taking ceremony of the former CJI was attended by members of the Narendra Modi cabinet.

Members from the Opposition benches protested as the former CJI took oath. Many Opposition members shouted slogans of "shame, shame." The Congress then staged a walkout.

The Chairman of the Upper House, Venkaiah Naidu rebuked the Opposition members saying that they should respect members of the house. He also told protesting members that the nomination was as per norms and well within the powers of the President. He told them that they were free to express their views outside the house.

Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad rose to point out that there have been instances of judges being nominated as Rajya Sabha members in the past.

President Ramnath Kovind on Monday evening, issued a notification nominating the former chief justice as a member of the Upper House. Opposition members alleged that the nomination by the Modi government is a quid pro quo deal hinting at the verdicts delivered by the former CJI in key cases.

Justice Ranjan Gogoi had been a part of benches which delivered judgments in important cases such as the Rafale deal, the Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute at Ayodhya and the entry of women into the Sabarimala temple in Kerala.