Congress claims quid pro quo on Gogoi’s RS nomination

The Congress on Thursday blamed quid pro quo on a day former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi was sworn in as Rajya Sabha member, adding that it had its reservations on his nomination to the Upper House of Parliament by the President.

Congress leader Anand Sharma said that "Gogoi has given many controversial judgments and he himself has been controversial; his appointment and his acceptance of Rajya Sabha seat has raised bona-fide questions of quid pro quo."

"Gogoi has lowered the dignity of the CJI's office; rather disgraced it," remarked Sharma, a former Union Minister.

"It (his nomination) severely undermines the higher judiciary in India and sends out a wrong message for the present and future of the judiciary," Sharma added.

He asserted that the constitutional scheme of things in India were very clear -- the distancing of the executive, parliament, and the judiciary.

"The earlier examples of judge's appointments after retirement do not hold water as these were done many years after they had retired, the Congress leader claimed.