When asked about his poor attendance, Gogoi had, in the interview, claimed that the lack of adherence to COVID protocols had made him uncomfortable attending Rajya Sabha sessions and that he goes to the RS when he feels like it.
Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi takes oath as a member of the Rajya Sabha in March 2020. Photo: PTI/Files
New Delhi: Former Chief Justice of India and nominated member of the Rajya Sabha Ranjan Gogoi has had a number of privilege motions submitted against him by MPs from various opposition parties for remarks he made during a December 9 interview with NDTV.
A privilege motion against Gogoi was initially submitted by Trinamool Congress (TMC) Rajya Sabha MPs Jawhar Sircar and Mausam Noor, as The Wire has reported earlier.
Subsequently, similar motions were submitted by MPs from the Congress, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Samajwadi Party , Shiv Sena and the Indian Union Muslim League, taking the total number of privilege motions to ten.
Privilege motions can be filed by any MP in either house of parliament against a fellow MP who they believe has committed a “breach of privilege”, that is, has violated the rights and immunities afforded to all MPs; a violation that is punishable under the laws of Parliament.
The current motions have been filed against Gogoi for remarks he made during the December 9 interview, particularly his response to a question on his poor attendance in the Upper House since he was nominated to the post.
After claiming that MPs were allowed to be present in the Rajya Sabha after only an RT-PCR test and that social distancing protocols were not being followed in the house, Gogoi said, “I go to the RS when I feel like, when I think there are matters of importance on which I should speak. I am a nominated member, not governed by any party whip. Therefore, whenever the bell rings for the party members to come, it does not bind me.”
Moreover, when questioned about his move to join the Rajya Sabha only four months after he retired as the Chief Justice, he said, “What is the magic about Rajya Sabha? I would have been better off in terms of pay, emoluments if I had been chairman of a tribunal.”
The motions filed by the TMC MPs state that his remarks constitute a breach and undermine the dignity of the house. The motions also asked the Committee of Privileges to intervene and examine the remarks and the charges of breach of privilege.
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(With input from news agency language)
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