Jammu, 21-03-2020: Describing the nomination Ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi to Rajya Sabha as an attempt by the ruling dispensation to expropriate and capture judiciary, Mr. Harsh Dev Singh JKNPP Chairman and Former Minister today said that the unpleasant move has delivered a serious blow to the image of Judiciary besides causing massive uproar across the country. There has been widespread condemnation from various quarters over the said nomination which has been viewed as on assault on the independence of Judiciary, asserted Singh. “The nomination of Gogoi as MP has caused huge rather irretrievable damage to the reputation of Judiciary which has already been immensely dented during the BJP regime. The nomination has not only disgraced and contaminated the institution but has caused embarrassment for the entire judicial system. The justification being given by the ruling party has failed to inspire the critics who have started attributing motives even to the Judgements delivered by the said Ex-CJI. All these weak voices raised in defence have been further drowned in the immense din raised from various quarters over the intention behind the sinecure offered to the retired judge. The move is being described as ‘quid pro quo’ which would only shake the trust of the people in Judiciary. It is difficult to dispute that post retirement Jobs have actually been influenced by pre-retirement Judgements”, remarked Singh. He observed that the statement of Mr. Gogoi that he would act as a bridge between the legislature and Judiciary had further compounded things and raised several questions over the independence of Judiciary.
While the appointment of retired Judges to Adjudicatory positions was understandable and Justified, their post retirement nomination to political institutions was wholly disagreeable and abhorrable, said Singh. He said that appointments of retired Judges in Human Rights Commissions, Consumer Commissions, Information Commissions, Accountability Commissions had all along been hailed but conferring political favours upon them would only damage the institutions including Judiciary, legislature as well as the executive.
Reminding the BJP of the homilies delivered by it in Rajya Sabha while in opposition, Mr. Singh said that its senior leaders including Arun Jaitely had been vociferously opposing post retirement Jobs for Judges on the ground that it would vitiate the judicial system. It’s the same Rajya Sabha to which BJP govt has now nominated the Ex-CJI of Supreme Court and made him to sit on seat no. 104 in the Sixth Row of the said House with an assignment to liaison with the Judiciary”, lamented Singh.
