TMC MPs Move Privilege Motion Against Ex-CJI Ranjan Gogoi Over Remarks On Rajya Sabha

The statement of Justice (retd) Gogoi "were in contempt of the Rajya Sabha and constitute a breach of privilege of the Council", stated the notice issued by the TMC lawmakers.

Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi | PTI

New Delhi: Two Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs moved a privilege motion against former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi for remarks on the Upper House during a recent interview with a private channel.

The statement of Justice (retd) Gogoi "were in contempt of the Rajya Sabha and constitute a breach of privilege of the Council", stated the notice issued by the TMC lawmakers.

During the interview, aired on December 9, Justice Gogoi was asked about his attendance in Parliament. "I go to the Rajya Sabha whenever I feel like it," Justice Gogoi had said.

In March 2020, Justice Gogoi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. According to the legislative research organisation PRS, he has had a 12% attendance rate in Parliament since then, compared to the national average of 79 per cent.

'I go to the Rajya Sabha whenever I feel like': Justice Gogoi

In an interview with the TV channel, Justice Gogoi highlighted the Covid-19 pandemic as one of the reasons for his low attendance.

"You ignore the fact that for one or two sessions, I have submitted a letter to the House saying that because of Covid, on medical advice I am not attending the session," he said in the interview.

"I go to the Rajya Sabha whenever I feel like it... when I think there are matters of importance on which I should speak," he further added.

#NDTVExclusive | Justice Gogoi, ex-Chief Justice of India, defended his controversial decision to accept a Rajya Sabha seat just 4 months after he retired from the Supreme Court, saying he wanted to do public service. But Parliament records show he has less than 10% attendance. pic.twitter.com/YIyIYCUUYP

— NDTV (@ndtv) December 9, 2021

Justice Gogoi defended his choice to enter the Rajya Sabha four months after his tenure as the top judge of the Supreme Court ended in his recently published book, a move that drew significant criticism.

Justice Gogoi stated that when the post was given to him, he accepted it without hesitation because he wanted to highlight concerns concerning the judiciary and the North East region, to which he belongs.

'An Insult To Parliament': Jairam Ramesh

Exasperated with Gogoi's statement, senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh slammed Justice Gogoi's justification for his poor Rajya Sabha attendance. 

Taking to Twitter, Ramesh said, "It is extraordinary and actually an insult to Parliament that former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi says he will attend the Rajya Sabha, to which he has been nominated when he feels like it! Parliament is not just about speaking but also listening."

It is extraordinary and actually an insult to Parliament that former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi says he will attend the Rajya Sabha, to which he has been nominated, when he feels like it! Parliament is not just about speaking but also listening.

— Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) December 11, 2021