Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi’s nomination came four months after his retirement on November 17, 2019. Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi’s nomination came four months after his retirement on November 17, 2019.

A day after he was nominated to Rajya Sabha by the union government, former chief justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi on Tuesday said he accepted the nomination as he wants the legislature and judiciary to work together for nation-building.

“I have accepted the offer of the nomination to the Rajya Sabha because of strong conviction that the legislature and judiciary must, at some point of time, work together for nation-building.

“My presence in Parliament will be an opportunity to project the views of the judiciary before the legislature and vice versa,” he told an Assamese news channel.

Gogoi, however, said he will speak in detail about his decision to enter the Upper House after taking oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha.

“Let God give me the strength to have an independent voice in Parliament,” he said, adding, “I have much to say, but let me take the oath in Parliament and then I shall open up”.

The former CJI’s nomination came four months after his retirement on November 17, 2019. Gogoi’s tenure as CJI was marred by allegations of sexual harassment but he was cleared of the charge by an in-house panel before he demitted office.

In a notification issued on Monday, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced his nomination to Rajya Sabha: “In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-clause (a) of clause (1) of 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,” the notification said. The vacancy was created following the retirement of K T S Tulsi.

Gogoi is the second CJI to become a member of the Upper House. Former CJI Ranganath Misra was also nominated to Rajya Sabha by the Congress and served from 1998 to 2004. Former Supreme Court judge Fathima Beevi was appointed Governor of Tamil Nadu from 1997-2001. CJI P Sathasivam was also appointed Governor of Kerala from 2014-2019. While Justice K Subba Rao contested the fourth Presidential elections, Justice Mohammad Hidayatullah became Vice President from 1979 to 1984.

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