Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State, will exchange Kiren Rijiju
New Delhi:
Kiren Rijiju was eliminated as Union Legislation Minister in the present day and changed by Arjun Ram Meghwal in a surprising transfer only a yr earlier than the nationwide election.
Mr Rijiju, identified to be one of many authorities’s most high-profile ministers and a troubleshooter, has been moved to the comparatively low-key Ministry of Earth Sciences, lower than a yr after he was promoted to the Legislation Ministry with cupboard standing.
Arjun Ram Meghwal, Minister of State in command of Parliamentary Affairs, will now even have Impartial Cost of the Legislation Ministry. That is the primary time in current historical past that the Legislation Minister isn’t of cupboard rank.
Mr Rijiju posted a word for his former ministry, thanking Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, and all judges.
It has been been a privelege and an honour to function Union Minister of Legislation & Justice underneath the steerage of Hon’ble PM Shri @narendramodi ji. I thank honble Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, all Judges of Supreme Court docket, Chief Justices and Judges of Excessive Courts, Decrease… pic.twitter.com/CSCT8Pzn1q
— Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) Might 18, 2023
India has a brand new Legislation Minister at a important time when the federal government and the Supreme Court docket have usually not been on the identical web page on judges’ appointments.
Mr Rijiju’s temporary time period was controversial due to frequent run-ins between the federal government and the judiciary, and his open criticism of the Supreme Court docket over the collegium system of judges appointing judges.
In February, a Supreme Court docket two-judge bench had expressed displeasure over the delay in clearing judges appointments and transfers, calling it a really critical difficulty and warning of “administrative and judicial actions which could not be palatable”.
Mr Rijiju had disregarded the warning, saying the nation can be ruled in line with the Structure and the needs of the individuals. “Generally discussions are held within the nation on some issues and in a democracy everybody has the proper to precise their opinion. However individuals sitting in accountable positions should assume earlier than saying something, whether or not it can profit the nation or not,” he had stated at an occasion, stressing that “no person can provide a warning to anybody”.
The federal government vs judiciary confrontation escalated when Mr Rijiju stated final yr that the collegium system is “alien” to the Structure and had no public assist. “Something which is alien to the Structure merely due to the choice taken by the courts or some judges, how do you count on that the choice might be backed by the nation,” he had stated.
He had additionally referred to the Nationwide Judicial Appointments Fee (NJAC) Act handed by parliament in 2014, which gave a higher function to the federal government in judicial appointments, which was scrapped by the Supreme Court docket.
A brief assertion from the President’s Home introduced Mr Rijiju’s switch this morning, citing the Prime Minister’s recommendation. Mr Rijiju modified his Twitter bio shortly after.