Kiren Rijiju’s Ouster Fans Flames Over Government-Judiciary Relations

New Delhi: In an unexpected turn of events, the Minister of Law and Justice, Kiren Rijiju, has been replaced by Arjun Ram Meghwal, the Bikaner MP and Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs.

While the ruling BJP dismissed the decision as routine, opposition parties, such as the Congress, interpreted it as an effort to mollify the judiciary and criticized Rijiju’s performance as a “failed law minister.” Rijiju expressed his appreciation for the chance to serve in the Ministry of Law and Justice and extended thanks to the Chief Justice of India and other judges for their support.

Rijiju’s appointment as the Minister of Law and Justice in July 2021 followed the removal of Ravi Shankar Prasad, who had been engaged in public exchanges with social media giants. Observers suggest that Prasad’s confrontational approach allowed social media platforms to play the victim and resulted in a personal feud rather than a focus on ministerial work.

Rijiju’s vocal criticism of the Collegium system, which appoints judges to higher courts, raised eyebrows. He referred to it as the “uncle judge” syndrome, claiming that judges only recommend those they know, thereby creating a situation where the selection process is limited to familiar names. His comments on retired judges being part of an anti-India gang also drew strong reactions and heightened tensions between the government and the judiciary.

Some speculate that Rijiju’s removal may be connected to recent events, such as the Supreme Court judgment on the Maharashtra political crisis or the investigation by SEBI into the Adani Group. Uddhav Thackeray’s Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi questioned if these incidents played a role in the decision. Sanjay Raut, another Shiv Sena leader, claimed that Rijiju’s move was a response to the judiciary’s resentment, calling it a victory for the judicial system.

As the Ministerial reshuffle raises questions and sparks debates, the implications for the judiciary and the ongoing relationship between the government and the legal system remain to be seen.