Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi received a warm farewell in the Rajya Sabha as his six-year tenure came to an end. Chairman praised his legal wisdom and said the House will “miss his voice” and valuable contributions.
Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has officially completed his six-year tenure as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, marking the end of a term that remained in public discussion from the very beginning.
On Monday, when the House met at 11 AM, Chairman CP Radhakrishnan gave a formal farewell to Gogoi and appreciated his contributions during his time in Parliament. While addressing the House, he said,
“As a distinguished Jurist, he brought unparalleled legal acumen and experience to the deliberations of the Rajya Sabha. His interventions in the Rajya Sabha reflected his deep understanding of the legislative process and public interest. The House will certainly miss his wise counsel, measured interventions and the gravitas he brought to our discussions,”
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highlighting Gogoi’s stature as a former top judge and his role in parliamentary discussions.
Gogoi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha on March 16, 2020, and he took oath just three days later on March 19, 2020. His appointment came shortly after his retirement as Chief Justice of India on November 17, 2019.
This quick transition from the judiciary to the legislature led to widespread debate across legal and political circles. Many critics raised concerns about the closeness between the executive and judiciary, especially given the short gap between his retirement and nomination.
At the same time, the move also received support from the Bar Council of India, which viewed his nomination as a positive step to improve communication and understanding between institutions.
Gogoi himself had justified accepting the nomination, saying it was an opportunity to serve the nation and take part in important public discussions. He emphasized that cooperation between the judiciary and legislature plays an important role in nation-building.
Despite the expectations from a former Chief Justice being part of Parliament, official data shows that Gogoi’s participation in the House remained quite limited. According to data compiled by PRS Legislative Research, his attendance during the six-year period was around 53%.
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Further records from the Rajya Sabha reveal that Gogoi participated in only one debate during his entire tenure. This took place in August 2023 during discussions on the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Bill, 2023, widely known as the Delhi Services Bill. While supporting the Bill, Gogoi stated that Parliament has the authority under Article 239AA of the Constitution to legislate on services in Delhi.
During this same debate, he made a notable remark on constitutional law, questioning the Basic Structure Doctrine. He said that it had
“a very debatable jurisprudential basis.”
This statement attracted attention because during his time as Chief Justice, Gogoi had supported the same doctrine in the Rojer Mathew case. In that judgment, the Supreme Court had held that judicial independence forms part of the Constitution’s basic structure while striking down the Tribunal Rules, 2017.
Apart from this one debate, parliamentary data shows that Gogoi did not ask any questions in the House during his entire tenure, which further raised questions about the extent of his legislative engagement.
In 2021, Gogoi again came into the spotlight due to remarks made in a television interview with NDTV. His comments led to a controversy, and two Members of Parliament from the All India Trinamool Congress sought to bring a privilege motion against him.
In that interview, Gogoi explained his approach towards attendance in Parliament and said,
“I attend the House when I feel it necessary,”
adding that as a nominated member, he was not bound by a “party whip”. His statements sparked debate about the responsibilities of nominated members in Parliament.
He also clarified that his attendance was affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic and his discomfort with the seating arrangements during that period.
With the completion of his term, Gogoi’s tenure in the Rajya Sabha comes to an end, leaving behind a mixed record—marked by his legal stature and experience on one hand, and limited parliamentary participation on the other.
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