New Delhi: Expressing reservation on former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi accepting union government's offer to get him nominated for the Rajya Sabha, ex-law minister Ashwani Kumar has said he shouldn't have accepted it to reinforce people's faith in the independence of the judiciary.
"It's my personal view that given the context in which judicial independence is being questioned, given the context of some of the recent judgments, it would have been more appropriate for the former Chief Justice of India not to have accepted the government's offer to nominate him to the Rajya Sabha," Kumar, talking exclusively to the ETV Bharat here, said.
"This is because it's necessary to retain and reinforce faith of the people in the total independence of the highest court," he added.
Mentioning that it was not unprecedented, Kumar said such nominations were made in the past as well, "but in the changing context, it's necessary for us to review the practice," he said.
Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi to take oath in Rajya Sabha tomorrow
"I believe that given the various challenges that we are facing as a nation, it's necessary for us take such steps which reinforce faith of the people in the Independence of the judiciary," he asserted.
He said when serious questions are being raised regarding the credibility of the judiciary, government and other democratic institutions of the country, such things should have been avoided.
Few days ago, former CJI, Ranjan Gogoi, who had presided over many crucial benches that delivered several landmark judgments, including Ramjanambhoomi land dispute, the abolition of homosexuality in India, entry of women in Sabrimala temple and clean chit to the Modi government on Rafale deal, was offered Rajya Sabha nomination by the union government.
It generated a controversy with many saying that it casts a doubt on judiciary's impartiality.
