Ranjan Gogoi

2021-10-17T15:50:15Z

2409:4065:E94:618:2557:E292:ED9B:79E5: /* Early life and career */

{{short description|46th Chief Justice of India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2019}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| birth_name =
| name = Ranjan Gogoi
| image = Hon'ble Justice Ranjan Gogoi.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| alt =
| caption =
| office = [[Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha]]
| term_start = 19 March 2020
| predecessor = [[K. T. S. Tulsi]]
| constituency = [[List of nominated members of the Rajya Sabha|Nominated]]
| appointed = [[Venkaiah Naidu|M. Venkaiah Naidu]]
| nominator = [[Ram Nath Kovind]]
| office1 = [[List of Chief Justices of India|46th]] [[Chief Justice of India]]
| term_start1 = 3 October 2018
| term_end1 = 17 November 2019
| appointer1 = [[Ram Nath Kovind]]
| predecessor1 = [[Dipak Misra]]
| successor1 = [[Sharad Arvind Bobde]]
| office2 = [[Judge]] of [[Supreme Court of India]]
| term_start2 = 23 April 2012
| term_end2 = 2 October 2018
| nominator2 = [[S. H. Kapadia]]
| appointer2 = [[Prathiba Patil]]
| office3 = [[Chief Justice]] of [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]]
| term_start3 = 12 February 2011
| term_end3 = 23 April 2012
| nominator3 = [[S. H. Kapadia]]
| appointer3 = [[Pratibha Patil]]
| predecessor3 = [[Mukul Mudgal]]
| office4 = [[Judge]] of [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]]
| nominator4 = [[S. H. Kapadia]]
| appointer4 = [[Pratibha Patil]]
| termstart4 = 9 September 2010
| termend4 = 11 February 2011
| office5 = [[Judge]] of [[Gauhati High Court]]
| nominator5 = [[Adarsh Sein Anand]]
| appointer5 = [[K. R. Narayanan]]
| termstart5 = 28 February 2001
| termend5 = 8 September 2010
<ref>{{cite web|url=https://highcourtchd.gov.in/?trs=former_cj|title=Former Hon'ble Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana|website=highcourtchd.gov.in|access-date=2018-09-14}}</ref>
| successor3 = [[Adarsh Kumar Goel]] <small>(acting)</small>
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1954|11|18}}
| birth_place = [[Dibrugarh]], [[Assam]], [[India]]<ref>{{cite news |last1=Karmakar |first1=Rahul |title=Who is Ranjan Gogoi, and what is he known for? |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-is-ranjan-gogoi-and-what-is-he-known-for/article24903500.ece |work=The Hindu |date=8 September 2018 |language=en-IN}}</ref>
| spouse = Rupanjali Gogoi
| father = [[Kesab Chandra Gogoi]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Ranjan Gogoi sworn in as SC judge |url=http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=apr2412/at07 |work=The Assam Tribune |date=24 April 2012}}</ref>
| children = 2<ref>{{cite web|url=https://aajtak.intoday.in/story/special-report-cji-shanti-gogoi-supreme-court-1-1032364.html|title=अलहदा किस्म के न्यायाधीश|website=aajtak.intoday.in}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Prakash |first1=Satya |title=SC judges' sons object to inclusion in Punjab panel |url=http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/sc-judges-sons-object-to-inclusion-in-punjab-panel/387771.html |work=[[The Tribune (Chandigarh)|The Tribune]] |date=5 April 2017}}</ref>
| residence =
| alma_mater = [[Faculty of Law, University of Delhi]]
| occupation = [[Justice]]
| religion =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| website =
| footnotes =
| mother = Shanti Gogoi
}}

'''Ranjan Gogoi''' (born 18 November 1954)<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/sjud/ranjangogoi.htm|title=Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ranjan Gogoi|publisher=Supreme Court of India|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511135011/http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/sjud/ranjangogoi.htm|archive-date=11 May 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> is a former Indian Judge of the [[Supreme Court of India]] who served as the [[List of Chief Justices of India|46th]] [[Chief Justice of India]] for 13 months between 2018 and 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scobserver.clpr.org.in/judges?id=ranjan-gogoi|title=Ranjan Gogoi|date=14 October 2018|website=scobserver.clpr.org.in|access-date=2018-10-14}}</ref> He was nominated to [[Rajya Sabha]] by President [[Ram Nath Kovind]] on 16 March 2020.<ref name="Ranjan">{{cite web | url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/president-nominates-former-cji-ranjan-gogoi-to-the-rajya-sabha/articleshow/74660293.cms | title=President nominates former CJI Ranjan Gogoi to the Rajya Sabha | publisher=[[The Economic Times]] | date=16 March 2020 | access-date=16 March 2020}}</ref> He is the third Supreme Court judge to serve the Rajya Sabha, and the first to be nominated to his seat, after [[Ranganath Mishra]] and [[Baharul Islam]], who were elected as members of the [[Indian National Congress]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://theprint.in/india/former-cji-ranjan-gogoi-nominated-to-rajya-sabha-less-than-6-months-after-retirement/382089/ | title=Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi nominated to Rajya Sabha, less than 6 months after retirement | publisher=ThePrint | work=Debayon Roy | date=16 March 2020 | access-date=16 March 2020}}</ref> The nomination by government and acceptance was highly criticized by former judges of the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-03-18|title=Ex-SC judges say Gogoi in RS clouds judiciary's independence, he says am for nation-building|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/ranjan-gogoi-rajya-sabha-6319537/|access-date=2020-07-20|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

== Early life and career ==
Ranjan Gogoi was born in a [[Tai-Ahom]] family with family residence at the K.C. Gogoi Path in [[Dibrugarh]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Vishwanath |first1=Apurva |title=Guwahati advocate asks CJI Misra why Justice Gogoi, an Assamese, is hearing NRC case |url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/guwahati-advocate-asks-cji-misra-why-justice-gogoi-an-assamese-is-hearing-nrc-case/95509/ |work=ThePrint |date=8 August 2018}}</ref> Along with paternal family, the royal family of [[Tai-Ahom]] [[Chao Pha]] [[Purandar Singha]] can be traced back from his mother's side.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Damayanti |last2=Deka |first2=Kaushik |title=Ranjan Gogoi: A judge with a difference |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/story/20181008-ranjan-gogoi-a-judge-with-a-difference-1350005-2018-10-01 |work=[[India Today]] |language=en}}</ref> His father is [[Kesab Chandra Gogoi]], an [[Indian National Congress]] politician who served as [[Chief Minister of Assam]] for two months in 1982. His mother is Shanti Gogoi(1934-2021) a social activist and writer. Shanti Gogoi is aunt of [[Shrinjan Rajkumar Gohain]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Desk|first=Sentinel Digital|date=2021-04-10|title=Noted social activist and writer Shanti Gogoi passes away - Sentinelassam|url=https://www.sentinelassam.com/north-east-india-news/assam-news/noted-social-activist-and-writer-shanti-gogoi-passes-away-533209|access-date=2021-04-13|website=www.sentinelassam.com|language=en}}</ref> Both his maternal grandparents Jogesh Chandra and Padma Kumari Gohain were legislators and ministers in pre-and post-Independence India.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Datta |first1=Damayanti|last2=Deka |first2=Kaushik|title=Ranjan Gogoi: A judge with a difference |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/the-big-story/story/20181008-ranjan-gogoi-a-judge-with-a-difference-1350005-2018-10-01 |work=[[India Today]] |language=en}}</ref> Gogoi attended Don Bosco school in [[Dibrugarh]] and Cotton College (currently known as [[Cotton University]]) in [[Guwahati]] before moving to [[Delhi]] to complete his higher studies. He then studied at [[St. Stephen's College, Delhi]], graduating with honours in history. After completing his bachelor’s degree, Gogoi cracked the [[Civil Services Examination]] to keep his father’s wish. He, later on, told his father that his interest lies in pursuing law instead. <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thestatesman.com/india/ranjan-gogoi-retires-as-chief-justice-of-india-a-glimpse-of-his-journey-from-upsc-to-ayodhya-verdict-1502823016.html | title=Ranjan Gogoi retires as Chief Justice of India, a glimpse of his journey from UPSC to Ayodhya verdict | publisher=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]] | work=Vikas Kumar | date=17 November 2019 | access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref> He graduated from [[Faculty of Law, University of Delhi]] where he received a law degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/national/justice-gogoi-profile-692621.html|title=Justice Gogoi: A profile|date=14 September 2018|website=Deccan Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://nenow.in/north-east-news/justice-ranjan-gogoi-a-brief-profile.html|title=Justice Ranjan Gogoi - A brief profile|date=3 September 2018}}</ref><ref name="St. Alumni">{{cite web |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/education-today/news/story/did-you-know-these-6-top-office-holders-in-india-went-to-the-same-college-1411307-2018-12-17|title=Did you know these 6 top office holders in India went to the same college? |work=India Today|date=17 December 2018}}</ref> In 1982, the then Law Minister Muhim Mazumdar asked Kesab Chandra Gogoi if his son would also become the [[Chief Minister of Assam]] someday. Mr Gogoi said his son Ranjan Gogoi would not emulate him, but had the potential to become the [[Chief Justice of India]]. The father’s assessment proved prophetic. <ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-is-ranjan-gogoi-and-what-is-he-known-for/article24903500.ece | title= Who is Ranjan Gogoi, and what is he known for? | publisher=[[The Hindu (India)|The Hindu]] | work=Rahul Karmakar | date=8 September 2018 |access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref>

His brother Anjan Gogoi ex-Air Marshal of Indian Air Force admitted this information in an interview to the [[Times of India]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ranjan-gogoi-has-always-followed-the-right-path-says-brother/articleshow/65800766.cms | title='Ranjan Gogoi has always followed the right path,' says brother | publisher=[[The Times of India]] | work=Prabin Kalita | date=13 September 2018 | access-date=17 March 2020}}</ref>

Gogoi [[Admission to practice law|enrolled at the bar]] in 1978, and practiced at the [[Gauhati High Court]], where he was made a Permanent Judge on 28 February 2001. He was transferred to the [[Punjab and Haryana High Court]] on 9 September 2010, becoming its Chief Justice on 12 February 2011. On 23 April 2012, he was elevated as a Judge of the Supreme Court.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ranjan Gogoi|url=http://supremecourtofindia.nic.in/judges/sjud/ranjangogoi.htm|publisher=Supreme Court of India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=In Ranjan Gogoi, northeast will have representation in Supreme Court|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3255478.ece|newspaper=The Hindu|date=29 March 2012}}</ref>

On 3 October 2018, he was appointed as [[Chief Justice of India]], succeeding [[Dipak Misra]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-ranjan-gogoi-sworn-in-chief-justice-of-india-5383802/|title=Justice Ranjan Gogoi sworn in as Chief Justice of India|date=3 October 2018|work=The Indian Express|access-date=2018-10-03|language=en-US}}</ref>

[[File:The President, Shri Ram Nath Kovind administering the oath of office to Shri Justice Ranjan Gogoi, as Chief Justice of India, at a swearing-in ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on October 03, 2018.JPG|thumb|250px| President [[Ram Nath Kovind]] administering the oath of office to Justice Ranjan Gogoi, as Chief Justice of India, at a swearing-in ceremony, at [[Rashtrapati Bhavan]], in New Delhi on October 03, 2018]]

He was nominated as [[Member of Parliament]], [[Rajya Sabha]] on 16 March 2020 by [[President of India|President]] [[Ram Nath Kovind]] and took oath on 19 March 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ex-chief-justice-ranjan-gogoi-sworn-in-amid-shame-chants-in-rajya-sabha-2197184|title="They Will Welcome Me": Ex Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi On Rajya Sabha Boos|website=NDTV.com|access-date=2020-03-19}}</ref>

He is one of the 63 individuals in India under the Z plus security cover provided by the Central Reserve Police Force.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Z plus security cover for Ranjan Gogoi|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/z-plus-security-cover-for-ranjan-gogoi/article33638727.ece|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=|title=Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi provided Z-plus security|work=The Tribune India|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/former-cji-ranjan-gogoi-provided-z-plus-security-202102|url-status=live|access-date=}}</ref>

== Significant judgments and orders ==

=== On arbitration ===
A judicial bench comprising Gogoi and [[R. Banumathi]] observed that the absence of arbitration agreement he introduced new laws, the court can only refer parties to arbitration with written consent of the parties. This could be only be by a joint memorandum or application, not oral consent given by counsel.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/courts-cant-refer-parties-arbitration-oral-consent-given-counsel-sc-read-judgment/|title=Courts Can't Refer Parties To Arbitration On Oral Consent Given By Their Counsel: SC [Read Judgment]|first=Ashok|last=K.M|date=12 March 2018|website=www.livelaw.in}}</ref>

=== On re-assessment of income of Amitabh Bachchan ===
In May 2016, a bench comprising Gogoi and Prafulla C. Pant quashed a 2012 [[Bombay High Court]] order that dismissed CIT's power to re-assess the income of [[Bollywood]] actor [[Amitabh Bachchan]] that he allegedly had obtained from the popular TV show, ''[[Kaun Banega Crorepati]]''.

In October 2002, Bachchan filed returns showing income of Rs 14.99 [[crore]] for the tax assessment year 2002–03. On 31 March 2003, he filed revised returns, declaring total income for that year in which he claimed expenses at 30% ad hoc amounting to Rs 6.31 crore, showing his income at Rs 8.11 crore. In March 2005, the Income Tax Department determined his income at Rs 56.41 crore for the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-amitabh-bachchan-gets-apex-court-notice-over-crorepati-income-1787080|title=Amitabh Bachchan gets apex court notice over crorepati income|date=9 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://itatonline.org/archives/wp-content/files/amitabh_bacchan_147_reopening.pdf |title=IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT BOMBAY ORDINARY ORIGINAL CIVIL JURISDICTION INCOME TAX APPEAL NO.4646 OF 2010 |date=5 July 2012 |website=itatonline.org |access-date=2019-05-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://itatonline.org/archives/wp-content/uploads/Amitabh-Bachchan-263-Revision.pdf |title=THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL APPELLATE JURISDICTION CIVIL APPEAL NO.5009 OF 2016 |date=2016 |website=itatonline.org |access-date=2019-05-07}}</ref>

=== Dismissal of petition seeking a Special Investigation Team probe ===

Led by Gogoi, on 24 January 2018 the Supreme Court dismissed Advocate Kamini Jaiswal's petition seeking a [[Special Investigation Team (India)|Special Investigation Team (SIT)]] investigation of attacks on Kanhaiya Kumar, the [[Jawaharlal Nehru University]] student union leader, on 15 and 17 February 2016 at Patiala House Court while he was escorted to courtroom in a sedition case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/dont-want-flog-dead-horse-sc-turns-plea-sit-probe-attack-kanhaiya-kumar-court-premises/|title='We Don't Want To Flog A Dead Horse': SC Turns Down Plea For SIT Probe Into 'Attack' On Kanhaiya Kumar On Court Premises|first=Prabhati Nayak|last=Mishra|date=24 January 2018|website=www.livelaw.in}}</ref>

=== On Govindaswamy vs State of Kerala ===
{{main|Soumya murder case}}
23-year-old Soumya, an employee of a Kochi shopping mall, was assaulted by one Govindaswamy in an empty ladies' coach of Ernakulam-Shoranur passenger train on 1 February 2011. She was allegedly pushed off from the slow-moving train, carried to a wooded area and subsequently raped. She succumbed to injuries at the Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur, on 6 February 2011. Govindaswamy was sentenced to death for murder by a trial court and the order was upheld by Kerala High Court on 17 December 2013.

On 15 September 2016, the Apex Court Bench comprising Gogoi, Pant and Uday Umesh Lalit set aside the death penalty and sentenced Govindaswamy to a maximum of [[life imprisonment]] for rape and other offences of causing bodily injuries.<blockquote>However, to hold that the accused is liable under Section 302 IPC what is required is an intention to cause death or knowledge that the act of the accused is likely to cause death. The intention of the accused in keeping the deceased in a supine position, according to P.W. 64, was for the purposes of the sexual assault. The requisite knowledge that in the circumstances such an act may cause death, also, cannot be attributed to the accused, inasmuch as, the evidence of P.W. 64 itself is to the effect that such knowledge and information is, in fact, parted with in the course of training of medical and para-medical staff. The fact that the deceased survived for a couple of days after the incident and eventually died in Hospital would also clearly militate against any intention of the accused to cause death by the act of keeping the deceased in a supine position. Therefore, in the totality of the facts discussed above, the accused cannot be held liable for injury no.2. Similarly, in keeping the deceased in a supine position, intention to cause death or knowledge that such actions may cause death, cannot be attributed to the accused. We are, accordingly, of the view that the offence under Section 302 IPC cannot be held to be made out against the accused so as to make him liable therefor. Rather, we are of the view that the acts of assault, etc. attributable to the accused would more appropriately attract the offence under Section 325 IPC. We accordingly find the accused-appellant guilty of the said offence and sentence him to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years for commission of the same...

...While the conviction under Section 376 IPC, Section 394 read with Section 397 IPC and Section 447 IPC and the sentences imposed for commission of the said offences are maintained, the conviction under Section 302 IPC is set aside...<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/breaking-soumya-rape-murder-case-sc-acquits-govindachami-murder-charges-awards-life-term-rape/|title=Soumya Case: SC Acquits Govindachami Of Murder Charges; Awards LIFE TERM For Rape [Read Judgment]|first=M. A. Rashid & Ashok|last=Kini|date=15 September 2016|website=www.livelaw.in}}</ref></blockquote>Following the judgement of setting aside the death sentence of the accused in the said ''[[Soumya murder case|Govindaswamy vs State Of Kerala]]'' case, Justice Rajan Gogoi and his bench were severely criticized by members of the public, members of the media, political leaders including Chief Minister of Kerala, [[Pinarayi Vijayan]], Law Minister of Kerala, [[A.K. Balan]], Senior CPI(M) leader [[V. S. Achuthanandan]], and jurists including Supreme Court lawyer [[Kaleeswaram Raj]] and [[Markandey Katju|Supreme Court Justice (retd) Markandey Katju]].

In a blog entry on 17 September, retired judge [[Markandey Katju]] described the Supreme Court's verdict as a "grave error" not expected of "judges who had been in the legal world for decades". He criticised the Bench for believing "hearsay evidence" that Soumya jumped off the train instead of being pushed out by Govindaswamy: <blockquote>Even a student of law in a law college knows this elementary principle that hearsay evidence is inadmissible.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-issues-contempt-notice-to-Markandey-Katju-not-scared-says-the-retired-judge/articleshow/55371715.cms|title=SC issues contempt notice to Markandey Katju; 'not scared' says the retired judge - Times of India ►}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/SC-to-Katju-Join-the-Soumya-case-hearing/article16074093.ece|title=SC to Katju: Join the Soumya case hearing|first=Krishnadas|last=Rajagopal|date=17 October 2016|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref></blockquote>In response, the SC bench led by Justice Rajan Gogoi decided to convert that blog by [[Markandey Katju|Justice Markandey Katju]] into a review petition and asked him to personally appear in court to debate.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/katju-summoned-to-sc-for-debate-on-soumya-murder-verdict/article9230724.ece|title=SC to Katju: Join the Soumya case hearing|publisher=thehindu.com|access-date=2016-10-19}}</ref> On 11 November 2016, he appeared in the court and submitted his arguments. The Court then dictated the order rejecting the review petition and issued [[contempt of court]] notice to him stating that "Prima facie, the statements made seem to be an attack on the Judges and not on the judgment".<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-issues-contempt-notice-to-Markandey-Katju-not-scared-says-the-retired-judge/articleshow/55371715.cms|title=SC issues contempt notice to Markandey Katju; 'not scared' says the retired judge|publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/markandey-katju-escorted-out-of-court-sc-slaps-contempt-notice-on-former-judge-3101350.html|title=Markandey Katju 'escorted' out of court, SC slaps contempt notice on former judge|publisher=firstpost.com|access-date=2016-11-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://sci.nic.in/FileServer/2016-11-12_1478947169.pdf|title=SUO MOTU CONTEMPT PETITION (CRIMINAL) NO.4 OF 2016|publisher=sci.nic.in/|access-date=2016-11-17}}</ref> On 6 January 2017, the Supreme Court accepted Katju's apology and closed the contempt proceedings against him.<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-markandey-katju-tenders-unconditional-apology-to-supreme-court-4461887/|title=Supreme Court accepts Justice Markandey Katju's apology, closes contempt proceedings|publisher=indian express |access-date=2017-01-06}}</ref>

=== On people who are originally inhabitants of the state of Assam ===
On 5 December 2017, while disposing of a [[Writs in India|Writ]] Petition (Civil) No. 1020 of 2017, Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha & Others Versus Union of India & Others clubbed with similar other petitions seeking clarification as to the meaning of people who are ''originally inhabitants of the [[Assam|state of Assam]]'', a term which appears in a schedule to the Citizenship (Registration Of Citizens And Issue Of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003 pertaining to special provision as to manner of preparation of National Register of Indian Citizen in [[Assam|state of Assam]], the bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi & Rohinton Fali Nariman observed that <blockquote>The exercise of upgradation of NRC is not intended to be one of identification and determination of who are original inhabitants of the State of Assam..... Citizens who are originally inhabitants/residents of the State of Assam and those who are not are at par for inclusion in the NRC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sci.gov.in/supremecourt//2017/2017__Judgement_05-Dec-2017.pdf |title=THE SUPREME COURT OF INDIA CIVIL ORIGINAL/APPELLATE JURISDICTION WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) NO. 1020 OF 2017 |date=5 December 2017 |website=www.sci.gov.in |access-date=2019-05-07}}</ref></blockquote>The National Register of Indian Citizens or in short the NRC, at its root, comprises all the Local Registers of Indian Citizens containing details of [[Indian nationality law|Indian citizens]] ''usually residing'' in a village or rural area or town or ward or demarcated area (demarcated by the Registrar General of Citizen Registration) within a ward in a town or urban area.

The Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Card) Rules, 2003 were amended in November 2009 and March 2010 for preparation of National Register of Citizens by inviting applications from all the residents in [[Assam]] for updation of the old National Register of Citizens (NRC) 1951 in Assam based on relevant records. In order to undertake updating of NRC in all districts of Assam, [[Pilot experiment|pilot projects]] for updating of NRC in two [[Block (district subdivision)#India|blocks]] (one each in [[Undivided Kamrup district|Kamrup]] and [[Barpeta district|Barpeta]] districts) were started in June 2010. Subsequently, pilot projects were stopped due to law and order problems.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://mha.gov.in/MHA1/Par2017/pdfs/par2014-pdfs/ls-150714/731.pdf |title=GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS LOK SABHAUN STARRED QUESTION NO.731 |date=15 July 2014 |website=mha.gov.in |access-date=2019-05-07}}</ref> A second attempt to update the register for Assam was made by the [[Government of India]] through issuing a Gazette Notification in December 2013.

On 17 December 2014, the bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi & Rohinton Fali Nariman mandated the Government of India to complete the finalization of final updated NRC for the entire state of Assam by 1 January 2016.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://nrcassam.nic.in/images/pdf/01.pdf |title= Writ of petition |website=nrcassam.nic.in |access-date=2019-05-07}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/states/north-east/top-court-order-on-nrc-sc-gives-centre-assam-3-years-to-update-register/cid/321447|title=Top court order on NRC - SC gives Centre, Assam 3 years to update register|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref>

=== Ayodhya dispute ===
On 9 November 2019, Ranjan Gogoi and four other Supreme Court judges (Justices [[Sharad Arvind Bobde]], [[Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud]], [[Ashok Bhushan]] and [[S. Abdul Nazeer]]) [[2019 Supreme Court verdict on Ayodhya dispute|pronounced the verdict]] regarding the Ayodhya Ram Janambhoomi-Babri Masjid title dispute case.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/meet-the-five-judges-who-will-deliver-the-ayodhya-verdict-today/articleshow/71979670.cms|title=Meet the five judges who delivered the Ayodhya verdict|date=2019-11-09|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref> After 40 days of daily hearings from 6 August, the five-judge bench unanimously decided in favour of awarding the land to the Hindu side to build a rama temple in the place.

This was his last case before retirement on 17 November 2019.

==Member of Rajya Sabha==

Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President Ram Nath Kovind.<ref>[http://egazette.nic.in/WriteReadData/2020/218776.pdf Gazette of India notification]</ref> On 19 March 2020, he took oath of office as a Member of Parliament in [[Rajya Sabha]] in presence of [[Chairman of Rajya Sabha]].<ref>{{cite news|title =Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi takes oath as Rajya Sabha member|date =19 March 2020|work= The Tribune|url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/former-cji-ranjan-gogoi-takes-oath-as-rajya-sabha-member-57995}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riIEJsZHz94|publisher = RSTV |title = Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi takes oath as Rajya Sabha MP|website =YouTube |date = 19 March 2020}}</ref>
{{external media | width = 210px | align = right | video1 =[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=riIEJsZHz94 "Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi takes oath as Rajya Sabha MP"], [[YouTube]], 19 March 2020 }}

==Controversies==
=== 2018 Supreme Court crisis ===
On 12 January 2018, Ranjan Gogoi and three other [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] judges - [[Jasti Chelameswar]], [[Madan Lokur]] and [[Kurian Joseph]] - became the first to hold a press conference. They alleged problems plaguing the court, in terms of failure in the justice delivery system and allocation of cases and told journalists that the press conference was prompted by the issue of allocating to Justice [[Arun Mishra]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/supreme-court-crisis-all-not-okay-democracy-at-stake-say-four-seniormost-judges/article10028921.ece|title=Supreme Court crisis: All not okay, democracy at stake, say four senior-most judges}}</ref> the case of the death of special [[Central Bureau of Investigation]], [[Brijgopal Harkishan Loya|Judge B.H.Loya]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/law/sc-justices-hold-historic-press-conference-triggered-judge-loya-case|title=Loya Case the Tipping Point, Four SC Judges Say Democracy Is in Danger|website=The Wire}}</ref> Loya, was a special CBI judge who had died in December 2014. Justice Loya was hearing the [[Death of Sohrabuddin Sheikh|Sohrabuddin Sheikh case]] of 2004, in which police officers and [[Bhartiya Janata Party|BJP]] chief [[Amit Shah]] are named. Later, Mishra recused himself from the case.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/arun-mishra-pulls-out-of-loya-case-201723|title=Arun Mishra pulls out of Loya case|website=www.telegraphindia.com}}</ref> Chelameswar retired on 30 June 2018, leaving Gogoi as the second senior-most judge of the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]], followed by Lokur and Joseph.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/justice-chelameswar-retires-says-no-regrets-about-press-conference-on-cji/story-vQwO10u3YFT2djeJRY88xN.html|title=Justice Chelameswar retires, says no regrets about press conference on CJI|date=22 June 2018}}</ref> Notwithstanding his seniority ranking, the [[Chief Justice of India]], [[Dipak Misra]], recommended Gogoi as his successor.
.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/chief-justice-dipak-misra-writes-to-government-recommending-justice-ranjan-gogoi-as-his-successor-1910865|title= Ranjan Gogoi as successor|website=www.ndtv.com|access-date=2019-11-15}}</ref>

=== 2019 Sexual Harassment Allegations ===
In April 2019, Gogoi was accused of sexual harassment by a former [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] employee who filed [[affidavits]] stating that the Chief Justice had sexually harassed her on 10–11 October 2018 by pressing his body against hers against her will.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/women/former-supreme-court-employee-alleges-sexual-harassment-by-chief-justice-gogoi|title=Former Supreme Court Employee Alleges Sexual Harassment by Chief Justice Gogoi|website=The Wire|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref> Gogoi rejected the allegations and described it as a conspiratorial attempt to hamper the independence of the judiciary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/sexual-harassment-allegations-against-cji-144404|title=Sexual Harassment Allegations Against CJI: SC Says Bigger Plot To Deactivate Office Of CJI|last=NETWORK|first=LIVELAW NEWS|date=2019-04-20|website=www.livelaw.in|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref>

A three-judge internal investigation committee cleared him, a month later.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/clean-chit-to-cji-ranjan-gogoi-17-women-activists-held-for-protest-bid/article27072851.ece|title=Clean chit to CJI Ranjan Gogoi: 17 women activists held for protest bid|author=Staff Reporter|date=2019-05-08|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-12-05|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The proceedings were severely criticized by several eminent activists, personalities from legal fraternity and two retired justices of the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]], for being opaque, unfair and one-sided, thus violating principles of natural justice.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/columns/controversial-clean-chit-to-cji-145164|title=Clean Chit to CJI : Why The Doors Of Justice Completely Closed ?|last=Acharyulu|first=Prof Madabhushi Sridhar|date=2019-05-21|website=www.livelaw.in|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livelaw.in/columns/judicial-emergency-justice-emasculated-and-country-blindfolded-144845|title=Judicial Emergency: Justice and Country Blindfolded|last=Dwivedi|first=Senior Advocate Rakesh|date=2019-05-07|website=www.livelaw.in|language=en|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref><ref>Mounting Criticism Against Clean Chit To CJI In Sexual Harassment Case https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/cji-clean-chit-reactions-144846</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/justice-ap-shah-sexual-harassment-case-against-cji-ranjan-gogoi-this-episode-is-going-to-haunt-sc-in-years-to-come-5713956/|title='This episode is going to haunt SC in years to come': Justice AP Shah on CJI sexual harassment case|date=2019-05-07|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/a-miscarriage-of-justice/article27051604.ece|title=A miscarriage of justice|last=Dave|first=Dushyant|date=2019-05-07|work=The Hindu|access-date=2019-12-05|language=en-IN|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/law/the-smothering-of-justice-at-indias-highest-court|title=The Smothering of Justice at India's Highest Court|website=The Wire|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/justice-ranjan-gogoi-sexual-harrassment-case-clean-chit-supreme-court-5741244/|title=A one-sided justice|date=2019-05-22|website=The Indian Express|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theprint.in/india/governance/judiciary/justice-chelameswar-says-due-process-not-followed-in-cji-gogoi-sexual-harassment-case/238867/|title=Justice Chelameswar says due process not followed in CJI Gogoi sexual harassment case|last=Bedi|first=Aneesha|date=2019-05-22|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|access-date=2019-12-05}}</ref>

A student Surbhi Karwa, who topped [[Master of Laws]] in [[National Law University, Delhi]] skipped her convocation to avoid receiving her degree from Gogoi in protest.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-19|title=Law topper skips event to protest Supreme Court's handling of CJI charges|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/law-topper-skips-event-to-protest-supreme-courts-handling-of-cji-charges-5915887/|access-date=2020-09-28|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/nlu-topper-skips-convocation-to-avoid-receiving-award-from-cji-ranjan-gogoi-over-sexual-harassment-claims-4349651.html|title=NLU Topper Skips Convocation in Protest against Ranjan Gogoi|website=Money Control|language=en|access-date=2019-08-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820161454/https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/nlu-topper-skips-convocation-to-avoid-receiving-award-from-cji-ranjan-gogoi-over-sexual-harassment-claims-4349651.html|archive-date=20 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> She told [[Indian Express]] that 'Everything I learnt in the classroom put me in a moral quandary over the last few weeks on whether I should receive the award from CJI Gogoi. The institution he heads failed when sexual harassment allegations were made against him'.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-19|title=Law topper skips event to protest Supreme Court's handling of CJI charges|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/law-topper-skips-event-to-protest-supreme-courts-handling-of-cji-charges-5915887/|access-date=2020-09-28|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> The [[National Law University Delhi]] refuted her skipping of convocation as rubbish and as University 'highly perturbed over this instance as it has caused an unnecessary inconvenience to the Chief Justice of India'.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Quint|first=The|date=2019-08-19|title=NLU Rubbishes Report of Topper Not Receiving Medal From CJI Gogoi|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/cji-sexual-harassment-nlu-topper-skips-convocation|access-date=2020-09-28|website=TheQuint|language=en}}</ref> The in house committee which quickly cleared Gogoi of sexual harassment was chaired by [[Sharad Arvind Bobde|Justice S A Bobde]], who himself succeeded Gogoi as Chief Justice. Following this, the woman complainant stated that she was terrified by the systematic victimisation of her family members who were all dismissed from service following her protest against Gogoi's sexual advances.<ref>{{Cite web|url= https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/cji-ranjan-gogoi-clean-chit-sexual-harassment-case-my-worst-fears-came-true-1518609-2019-05-06|title= Dejected and Terrified - Woman Complainant against CJI Ranjan Gogoi|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2019-12-29}}</ref> In June 2019, the husband and brother-in-law were reinstated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gogoi-chief-justice-supreme-court-sexual-harassment-complainant-husband-kin-1552407-2019-06-20|title=CJI sexual harassment case: Complainant's husband, brother-in-law reinstated as head constables|last1=DelhiJune 20|first1=India Today Web Desk New|last2=June 20|first2=2019UPDATED|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=2020-03-19|last3=Ist|first3=2019 10:32}}</ref>

In July 2021, [[Project Pegasus (spyware)|Project Pegasus]] revealed that 11 phone numbers associated with this lady and her immediate family are also allegedly found on a database indicating the possibility of their phones being snooped.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-07-20|title=Eleven phones targeted: Of woman who accused ex-CJI of harassment, kin|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/pegasus-project-eleven-phones-targeted-of-woman-who-accused-ex-cji-of-harassment-kin-7412678/|access-date=2021-07-21|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Days After Accusing CJI Gogoi of Sexual Harassment, Staffer Put on List of Potential Snoop Targets|url=https://thewire.in/rights/ranjan-gogoi-sexual-harassment-pegasus-spyware|access-date=2021-07-21|website=thewire.in}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

{{Chief Justices of India}}

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[[Category:1954 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Cotton College, Guwahati alumni]]
[[Category:University of Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:Justices of the Supreme Court of India]]
[[Category:People from Dibrugarh district]]
[[Category:St. Stephen's College, Delhi alumni]]
[[Category:Judges of the Gauhati High Court]]
[[Category:Chief Justices of the Punjab and Haryana High Court]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian judges]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian judges]]
[[Category:Chief Justices of India]]

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Ranjan Gogoi