Our fears would come true if Ranjan Gogoi not made Chief Justice, says Justice Chelameswar

The second most senior judge of the Supreme Court, Justice J Chelameswar has said that if Justice Ranjan Gogoi is not made Chief Justice of India (CJI), the concerns expressed over the functioning of the top court in the unprecedented press conference would come true.

“I hope it will not happen. If, if, if, I repeat, if it happens, it will only prove whatever we said at the press conference is true,” Chelameswar, one of the four judges who held the unprecedented press conference told journalist Karan Thapar during an event organised by the Harvard Club of India.

Gogoi is the third most senior judge of the apex court but after Justice Chelameswar’s retirement in 2016, he will be the senior most person to take over from CJI Dipak Misra who will retire later this year.

Chelameswar was asked if he had any apprehensions, especially after the press conference, that Justice Gogoi might not be elevated to the post of Chief Justice when CJI Misra retires.

On January 12, four senior-most Supreme Court judges – Justices J Chelameswar, Rajan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph – had held an unprecedented press conference and raised serious questions about the apex court’s functioning and allocation of the cases.

The judges had questioned the way “master of the roster” CJI Misra was allocating important cases including the case of CBI judge Loya’s death.

“Undoubtedly, the CJI would have the power to constitute the benches. But under the Constitutional system, every power is coupled with certain responsibilities. The power is required to be exercised not really because the power exists, but for the purpose of achieving some public good,” Chelameswar said during the event.