The former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, on Thursday, took the oath as a nominated member of the Upper House of the Parliament (Rajya Sabha) even though the opposition chanted slogans and even staged a walkout.
On Monday, President of India Ram Nath Kovind forwarded the name of ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi as a nominated member of Rajya Sabha.
M Venkaiah Naidu, Chairman, Rajya Sabha made an announcement on Thursday when the proceedings began in the Upper House of the Parliament, however, it triggered sloganeering from various leaders from the Congress party and many members from the opposition parties who protested his nomination for the Rajya Sabha joined them.
Chairman Naidu said that the sloganeering was “very unfair and unbecoming” on the part of the MPs (Members of Parliament). As Gogoi took the oath, members of various opposition parties along with some Congress leaders staged a walkout.
After Gogoi’s oath ceremony was finished, Naidu said, “We know powers of the President of India and we should not do anything in the House. Outside you have the liberty of airing your views,”.
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Congress demands that appointment of a judiciary to any high officer, including Rajya Sabha, should have some cool-off period.
The Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, after the walkout from the opposition, took a dig at the Congress party reminding then that similar appointments were made when other parties were in power in the past. He said, “Gogoi will surely contribute his best. It (opposition’s response) was grossly unfair,”.
Out of the maximum strength of Rajya Sabha (250), 12 members are nominated by the President of India. The nominated members generally are distinguished personalities in the fields of science, social service, art, and/or literature.
