NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday nominated former chief justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to the Rajya Sabha.
The central government issued a notification to this effect, saying, “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (a) of clause (1) 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.” Justice Gogoi, who retired on November 17, 2019, headed the Supreme Court bench which brought the curtains down on the decades-old Ayodhya title dispute. Justice Gogoi was appointed the 46th CJI on October 3, 2018. His tenure was marked by controversies, including an allegation of sexual harassment against him.
However, he was later cleared of the charge. The only judge from a northeast state to become CJI, Justice Gogoi pronounced the final verdict in Ayodhya title dispute case, which dates back even before 1950, when the Supreme Court came into existence. Justice Gogoi also headed the bench, which, in a landmark verdict, held that the office of the CJI is a public authority under the Right to Information Act, but “judicial independence has to be kept in mind” while disclosing information in “public interest”.
He began his career in judicial service as a judge of Gauhati High Court in 2001 before being transferred to Punjab & Haryana High Court in 2010. He was appointed the chief justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court in 2011 before being elevated to the Supreme Court on April 23, 2012. Ranganath Mishra, the 21st CJI, also served as a member of the Upper House.