The President of India’s press release confirmed that Kiren Rijiju will now serve as the Minister of Earth Sciences, following his resignation as Union Minister of Law. The press release also mentioned that Arjun Ram Meghwal has been appointed as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice, in addition to his current portfolios.
The press release, available on the central government’s website, stated the reallocation of responsibilities as per the Prime Minister’s advice. It stated that Kiren Rijiju will assume the Ministry of Earth Sciences, while Arjun Ram Meghwal will independently handle the Minister of State role in the Ministry of Law and Justice, replacing Kiren Rijiju and retaining his existing portfolios.
Rijiju’s transfer from the position of Union Law Minister, which lasted less than two years, was surrounded by unanswered questions and marked by a tumultuous and arguably inconsistent relationship with the Indian judiciary.
Rijiju assumed the role of Law Minister on July 8, 2021, following the resignation of Ravi Shankar Prasad, who had a heated exchange with Twitter. His appointment to the Ministry of Law came as a surprise to many, considering his previous positions in the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports and the Ministry of Minority Affairs.
Despite holding a law degree from the University of Delhi, doubts arose about Rijiju’s qualifications to lead the Ministry of Law and Justice due to his lack of practical experience in the legal field.
No official statements have been made regarding the reason for Rijiju’s removal from the position after nearly two years. However, it is believed that his strained relationship with the Indian judiciary played a significant role in his transfer.
During his tenure, which coincided with the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, Rijiju’s public appearances mainly revolved around noncontroversial topics such as virtual hearings, judicial infrastructure, alternative dispute resolution methods, and online dispute resolution.
Rijiju had interactions with three different Chief Justices of India (CJI) during his time as Law Minister. These interactions with Justice NV Ramana, Justice UU Lalit (who served for only 74 days as CJI), and the current CJI, DY Chandrachud, varied in nature. However, there were frequent accusations exchanged between the judiciary and the executive regarding overstepping their respective boundaries.
The discord between Rijiju and the last three Chief Justices is a reflection of his tenure as Law Minister. The main point of contention between Rijiju and the judiciary was the appointment of judges, particularly the process carried out by the Supreme Court Collegium.
Rijiju openly criticized the system, referring to it as opaque, foreign, and politically influenced.
He advocated for the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Bill as an alternative to the Collegium system, despite the Supreme Court striking it down. This received support from Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
Interestingly, Rijiju stated in Parliament that there are no plans to reinstate the NJAC. A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed against Rijiju and the President for their remarks on the judiciary and the Collegium system, but the Bombay High Court dismissed the petition, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court.
Rijiju later blamed the Congress party for the creation of the Collegium system, accusing them of judicial overreach. The dispute over judicial appointments intensified as Chief Justice Chandrachud assumed office and had a significant role in appointing 19 judges to the Supreme Court.
During his tenure, social media attacks on judges increased, and Rijiju expressed sympathy towards judges facing such attacks, emphasizing the responsibilities they carry. However, Rijiju’s statements regarding court vacations, bail applications, and frivolous PILs strained his relationship with the judiciary, prompting disagreement from the Chief Justice.
Throughout his tenure, Rijiju maintained that there was no conflict between the government and the judiciary, but he often criticized the judiciary. He asserted the importance of delineated powers for the judiciary, executive, and legislature, emphasizing that they should stay within their limits.
Rijiju faced backlash for claiming that some judges were part of an “anti-India gang,” with over 300 lawyers condemning his remarks. On Constitution Day, Rijiju delivered contradictory statements regarding the tension between the judiciary and the executive.
The uncertainty remains regarding Rijiju’s position on various issues and the reasons behind his interactions with the judiciary during his tenure as Law Minister.
