Kiren Rijiju was moved to the Ministry of Earth Sciences and MoS SP Baghel to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
Kiren Rijiju, SP Baghel. (Twitter)
In a surprise move, the Union government on Thursday, 18 May, made a reconstitution of the Ministry of Law and Justice by replacing the minister and shifting the Minister of State (MoS).
Kiren Rijiju, who held the law portfolio, was shifted to the relatively-lower-profile Ministry of Earth Sciences while MoS SP Baghel was moved to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
A brief communique from Rashtrapati Bhavan said President Droupadi Murmu, as advised by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has reallocated portfolios among ministers in the Union Council of Ministers.
“The portfolio of (the) Ministry of Earth Sciences be assigned to Kiren Rijiju,” it said.
The move of the MoS was necessitated after Arjun Ram Meghwal was made the Minister of State with Independent charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice.
According to the Ministry convention, a ministry headed by a Minister of State with independent charge does not have a deputy.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, took a swipe at Kiren Rijiju, calling him a “failed law minister”.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore described Rijiju, who was routinely vocal against the collegium system of judicial appointments, as a “failed law minister”, while veteran lawyer and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal said it was not easy to understand the science behind the laws.
“The failed law minister moves.. In Earth science what he can do ? 🤦🏻 Hope @arjunrammeghwal acts in a dignified manner as Law Minister [sic],” said Tagore, who is the Congress whip in Lok Sabha, in a tweet.
The failed law minister moves..
In Earth science what he can do ? 🤦🏻Hope @arjunrammeghwal acts in a dignified manner as Law Minister. https://t.co/n67LJ5BY0Y
— Manickam Tagore .B🇮🇳மாணிக்கம் தாகூர்.ப (@manickamtagore) May 18, 2023
Another Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said, “The party that claims to be the largest party on the planet is even unable to find a full-timethe the Every day Law Minister.”
“This doesn’t only reflect the lack of talent in the treasury bench, but also the sheer inefficiency of the government,” the Congress Rajya Sabha MP said in a tweet.
Sibal, a former law minister, said, “Kiren Rijiju: Not law, now Minister for Earth Sciences. It is not easy to understand the science behind the laws. Now (he) will try to grapple with the laws of science. Good luck my friend!”
Kiren Rijiju :
Not Law
Now Minister for Earth SciencesNot easy to understand the science behind the Laws
Now will try to grapple with the laws of science
Good luck my friend !
— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) May 18, 2023
Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi dwelt on the possible reasons behind Rijiju being moved to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, wondering if the recent Supreme Court judgement on Maharashtra was a cause.
“Is it because of the Maharashtra judgement embarrassment? Or the Modani-SEBI investigation?” Chaturvedi asked in a tweet.
Is it because of the Maharashtra judgement embarrassment? Or the Modani- SEBI investigation?
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) May 18, 2023
BSP’S Danish Ali tweeted, “On 7th February 2023 in Lok Sabha, I strongly objected to the unreasonable and dangerous criticism of judiciary by @KirenRijiju but Govt didn’t act timely. He has been removed today. It’s quite late and he has already caused irreversible damage to the institution.”
On 7th February 2023 in Lok Sabha, I strongly objected to the unreasonable and dangerous criticism of judiciary by @KirenRijiju but Govt didn’t act timely. He has been removed today. It’s quite late and he has already caused irreversible damage to the institution. @narendramodi https://t.co/9dY0R5Xytu
— Kunwar Danish Ali (@KDanishAli) May 18, 2023
Rijiju was named law minister on 7 July, 2021. He got the coveted portfolio following the resignation of senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad.
His exit from the ministry came in the midst of his frequent criticism of the judiciary, particularly on the system of appointment of judges to high courts and the Supreme Court.
Rijiju, a three-term Lok Sabha member from Arunachal Pradesh, has slammed the collegium system of appointments to the higher judiciary as “alien” to the Constitution and even accused a few retired judges of being part of the “anti-India gang”, remarks that evoked strong reactions.
The 51-year-old Rijiju has held several portfolios in the BJP government, including Minister of State for Home, Minister of State for Minority Affairs and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Youth Affairs and Sports before being elevated to the Cabinet rank as Law Minister in 2021.
Rijiju also faced Opposition fire over his remarks that there was a “calibrated effort” to undermine the Indian judiciary and “turn it against the government”.
With the Supreme Court hearing pleas on legalising same-sex unions, he had on various occasions asserted that the issue related to the institution of marriage should be decided by Parliament — as it represents the will of the people — and not courts.
Rijiju had downplayed the differences with the judiciary, contending that there was “no Mahabharat” between the government and the judiciary, but said there will be “debate and discussion” in a democracy.
At a public function, Rijiju referred to a letter written by former Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on criticism of judges on social media and said judges are careful while delivering verdicts that could draw a strong public reaction.
However, he said, unlike politicians, a “judge does not have to face an election again”.
Last November, Rijiju drew the ire of the apex court for his outburst over the “delay” in appointments to the judiciary.
“Never say that the government is sitting on the files. Then don’t send the files to the government, you appoint yourself, you run the show then,” Rijiju had said.
The apex court had wondered whether the delay in clearing appointments to the higher judiciary was because it struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission.
As Sports Minister, Rijiju ensured an increase in prize money for national sports awards winners, prompt assistance for current and former athletes facing financial hardships and upgrade of infrastructure at various Sports Authority of India facilities across the country.
However, in a Cabinet reshuffle in July 2021, a fortnight ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, Rijiju was promoted to Cabinet rank as Law Minister while Anurag Thakur was appointed Sports Minister.
Rijiju had succeeded Ravi Shankar Prasad as Law Minister. Prasad too had spoken against the collegium system but was not as vocal as Rijiju.
Bureaucrat-turned-politician Arjun Ram Meghwal, who has been appointed Law Minister, is only the third person to hold the post in the rank of Minister of State (Independent Charge).
Meghwal is a three-term Lok Sabha member from Bikaner in Rajasthan and is considered a fresh face with no baggage in the Law Ministry.
He courted controversy in July 2020 when he endorsed a certain brand of “papad” claiming that it would cure Covid-19.
(With PTI inputs)
