Kiren Rijiju shifted out of Law Ministry: Incidents of his tussle with Supreme Court

Rijiju took over as the Law and Justice Minister on July 8, 2021. Prior to this, he served as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) of Youth Affairs and Sports from May 2019 to July 2021. A law graduate from Delhi University, Rijiju is a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh.

Incidents of Rijiju’s tussle with the Supreme Court

1. 01

   Kiren Rijiju's letter to CJI Chandrachud

   Since last year, there has been an ongoing tussle between the Centre and the Supreme Court regarding the system of appointment of High Court and Supreme Court judges. In January 2023, Rijiju wrote a letter to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, suggesting the inclusion of a government nominee in the decision-marking process for shortlisting of judges.

2. 02

   Rijiju on SC revealing Govt objections

   In the same month, Rijiju said that the apex court making public “secret or sensitive reports” on the Centre’s objections to the appointment of three advocates as High Court judges was a “grave concern”. Responding to questions from reporters on the Supreme Court’s move, Rijiju said that “putting the secret or sensitive reports of R&AW or IB in public domain is a matter of grave concern”.

3. 03

   Rijiju backs Delhi HC judge who said SC 'hijacked' constitution

   Escalating the issue then, Rijiju also shared an interview clip of a retired Delhi HC judge who said the Supreme Court had “hijacked” the Constitution by deciding to appoint its own judges. “Actually majority of the people have similar sane views,” Rijiju said in a tweet in January.

4. 04

   'Calibrated effort' to turn judiciary against Govt: Rijiju

   In March, speaking at the India Today Conclave, Rijiju flagged what he called “a calibrated effort” to undermine the Indian judiciary and turn it against the government. Rijiju also criticised the Supreme Court Collegium’s decision to make public its reasons for reiterating the names recommended for the appointment of judges and the government’s objections to some of them.

5. 05

   Few judges part of 'anti-India' gang, Rijiju says

   In the same Conclave, Rijiju said that a few retired judges were part of an “anti-India gang” and are forcing the judiciary to play the role of an Opposition party. He warned that “those working against the country will have to pay a price”.

   “Recently, there was a seminar on accountability of judges. But somehow the entire seminar became how the executive is affecting the judiciary. There are a few judges who are activists and are part of an anti-India gang which is trying to turn judiciary against the government like the Opposition parties,” Rijiju said.

6. 06

   Rijiju's dissatisfaction with performances of fast track courts

   Rijiju has also raise concern over his dissatisfaction with the performance of fast track special courts (FTSCs) in certain states and asked their Chief Ministers and High Court Chief Justices to do “much more”.

   “Presently, I am not very satisfied with how these FTSCs are functioning. That is why I reiterated in the joint conference of Chief Ministers and Chief Justices that I will devote our time to this. I want the judiciary and government to come together. We have to raise the level of our efforts,” Rijiju said, adding that effects of legislative actions “must trickle down to the ground”.

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