Yesterday, On 14th July, Former Madhya Pradesh High Court judge, Justice Rohit Arya, joined the BJP. Justice Arya retired from the Madhya Pradesh High Court in April 2024. His decision to join the political party marks a significant career shift.
Bhopal: Almost three months after his retirement, former Madhya Pradesh High Court judge, Justice Rohit Arya joined the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) on Saturday.
His induction into the party officiated by BJP Madhya Pradesh Chief Dr. Raghavendra Sharma during a program held at the BJP State Office in Bhopal.
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Justice Rohit Arya, born in 1962, began his legal career when he enrolled as an advocate in 1984. In 2003, he designated as a senior advocate by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Throughout his career, Justice Arya specialized in various legal domains, including civil law, commercial law, arbitration, administrative law, service law, labor law, and tax law. His clientele included prestigious bodies such as the Central Government, State Bank of India, Telecom Department, BSNL, Employees State Insurance Corporation, and the Income Tax Department.
Justice Arya’s judicial career saw a significant milestone when he elevated as a Judge of the High Court in 2013 and subsequently sworn in as a permanent Judge in 2015. He served in this capacity until his retirement on April 27, 2024.
In 2021, Justice Arya gained considerable attention for denying bail to comedian Munawar Faruqui and Nalin Yadav, who were accused of hurting religious sentiments.
In his ruling, Justice Arya emphasized the constitutional duty of every citizen and the State to foster harmony and promote the spirit of common brotherhood, irrespective of religious, linguistic, sectional, and regional diversities, as enshrined in Article 51A(e) and (f) of the Constitution.
He remarked,
“The State must endeavour to ensure that this ecosystem and sustenance of coexistence in our welfare society is not polluted by negative forces.”
However, the Supreme Court later overturned this decision and granted bail to Faruqui .
Justice Arya also made headlines in 2020 for granting bail to a man accused of outraging the modesty of a woman with the unusual condition that he present himself before the complainant so she could tie a “rakhi” on his wrist. This gesture, traditionally symbolizing a brother-sister relationship, intended to serve as a promise of protection.
The bail conditions required the accused and his wife to visit the complainant’s house on Raksha Bandhan day with a Rakhi thread and a box of sweets, and for the accused to promise to protect the complainant to the best of his ability.
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However, this decision subsequently criticized and set aside by the Supreme Court, which issued guidelines for lower courts regarding bail petitions in cases related to crimes against women.
In his judicial career, Justice Arya made notable contributions but also faced significant scrutiny and controversy, reflecting the complex and often contentious nature of legal and judicial processes.
Additionally, the applicant instructed to pay the complainant Rs. 11,000 as part of a customary ritual and Rs. 5,000 to her son for buying clothes and sweets.