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Ranjan Gogoi book brings back focus on his key judgments

Apart from the sexual harassment case, Gogoi has passed several key decisions either individually or as part of a bench which are a tad controversial.

Published

5 years ago

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Ranjan Gogoi

By Deeksha Sharma

Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has been in the news recently for his autobiography, Justice for the Judge. The book was released on Wednesday. But it has been a topic for both ridicule and amusement because of its title and its attempt to salvage Gogoi’s reputation.  

Now a nominated Rajya Sabha member, Gogoi said in an interview, “We all make mistakes and I have no difficulty in saying so”, when asked about the propriety of him leading the bench hearing the sexual harassment case against him.

On December 8, Rupa Publications held a grand launch for the book which was released by Gogoi’s successor in the Supreme Court, Justice (retired) S.A. Bobde. 

At the book launch and after, he gave interviews and was asked several questions about his decisions, judgements and, of course, the sexual harassment case levelled against him, in which he himself scheduled the hearing of the case and made observations about the motive and conduct of the complainant and claimed he was being targeted and maligned by vested interests. All in the name of tarnishing the judiciary.

Apart from the sexual harassment case, Gogoi has passed several key decisions either individually or as part of a bench which are a tad controversial.

Sabarimala Judgement

In 2019, the Supreme Court bench led by then Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi reviewed petitions challenging the Apex Court’s 2018 decision to allow women of all ages to enter Sabarimala temple, which said that matter should be considered by a larger bench. 

This decision was taken with a 3-2 majority, Justices R.F. Nariman (now retired) and D.Y. Chandrachud were the dissenters and were part of the majority in the 4-1 verdict of the 2018 order.

In the hearing, Gogoi said whether a court can intervene in matters that are essential to religion is yet to be decided, and this case is in reference to a larger bench of issues.

Rafale clean chit

In the same year, another bench headed by Gogoi gave a clean chit to the Narendra Modi government over allegations of corruption in India’s purchase of 36 Rafale jets from France’s Dassault Aviation. The deal had come under the corruption cloud because the initial contract was for 126 planes. Further, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s chowkidar comment had also queered the pitch. Rafale was the opposition’s main plank in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections but the surgical strike in response to the Pulwama killing of CRPF jawans and the nation rallying behind him saw PM Modi back in the office.

Sexual harassment case levelled against Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi

In 2019, a staffer of the Supreme Court, who was assigned duties at the Gogoi residence said that she had been sexually harassed by him.

Read Also: UKPSC Recruitment 2021: How to apply online for 318 posts? Check last date, eligibility, and salary

After this, he took suo motu cognisance of the matter and titled it as ‘In Re Matter of Great Public Importance Touching Upon the Independence of Judiciary.’ Not only this, he also heard the matter on a holiday and the bench was headed by him. Legal experts have decried Gogoi on several counts for the sheer lack of judicial propriety in his dealing with the case.

NRC

At a media house’s event, Gogoi said, “National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a game, a big game by the politicians.” But this statement is nothing as he himself has part of the game and part of the bench that directed and saw the implementation of the NRC in Assam from 2014 till its finalisation in 2019. 

The NRC is the first of the two-card bogey (the second being the Citizenship Amendment Act) that had put Indian Muslims especially in the Northeast and West Bengal on tenterhooks. The CAA led to several struggles including the now legendary sit-in by Muslim women at Shaheen Bagh.

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Asish Banerjee found dead in Rampurhat, Mamata Banerjee aide’s death shocks TMC

Former West Bengal deputy speaker and five-time Rampurhat MLA Asish Banerjee was found dead at a Trinamool Congress office in Birbhum.

Published

2 hours ago

on

August 16, 2026

By

Mamata Banerjee

Former West Bengal Assembly deputy speaker and Trinamool Congress leader Asish Banerjee was found dead at a party office next to his residence in Rampurhat, Birbhum district, on Sunday morning.

Police said his body was found hanging and was sent for postmortem. A large crowd gathered outside the Trinamool Congress office after news of his death spread.

Who was Asish Banerjee?

Asish Banerjee had served as the deputy speaker of the West Bengal Assembly when Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee was the state’s chief minister. He was also a five-time MLA from Rampurhat.

He had served as Bengal’s education and agriculture minister after Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress first came to power in the state.

Banerjee contested the West Bengal Assembly election earlier this year but lost the Rampurhat seat to BJP’s Dhruba Saha.

Asish Banerjee’s recent party role

Banerjee stepped down as chairman of the Trinamool Congress’s Birbhum district core committee in June. At the time, he said he would continue as a general member of the party.

He lived in the Hattalapara neighbourhood of Rampurhat, with the party office where his body was found located next to his house.

BJP gains in Birbhum

The BJP won six of the 11 Assembly constituencies in Birbhum in the latest state election. This marked a significant change from 2021, when the Trinamool Congress had won 10 seats in the district while the BJP had secured one.

Police have sent Asish Banerjee’s body for postmortem as the circumstances surrounding his death are being investigated.

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IPS Officer Nupur Prasad gets Medal for Meritorious Service after Sushant Singh Rajput probe

IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been selected for the Medal for Meritorious Service this year.

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1 day ago

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August 15, 2026

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IPS officer Nupur Prasad, who led the CBI investigation into actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death, has been recognised with the Medal for Meritorious Service (MSM) this year.

A 2007-batch AGMUT cadre officer, Ms Prasad recently returned to the Delhi Police after completing her tenure with the CBI. She is currently serving as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), where she oversees investigations involving financial and economic crimes.

The award is part of this year’s recognition for police personnel for distinguished and meritorious service. Such honours recognise contributions in areas including investigation, crime prevention, public service, law and order and administration.

Nupur Prasad’s role in Sushant Singh Rajput case

Ms Prasad came into national focus during the CBI investigation into the death of Sushant Singh Rajput, who was found dead at his Mumbai residence on June 14, 2020.

The case was transferred to the CBI in August 2020 following a complaint by the actor’s family and a legal dispute over jurisdiction.

During her tenure with the agency, Ms Prasad supervised key aspects of the investigation, including the examination of witness statements, forensic evidence and medical records.

In 2025, the CBI filed closure reports, saying its investigation found no evidence of foul play, abetment to suicide or criminal conspiracy in the actor’s death.

Career across Delhi Police, CBI

Ms Prasad has served in several positions during her career, including assignments in the Delhi Police, CBI, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal.

Before joining the CBI, she held senior positions in the Delhi Police and became the first Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Shahdara. During her tenure, she worked on establishing the district’s policing framework following its creation.

She also led operations targeting drug networks and illegal gambling activities while focusing on crime-prevention measures.

Later, as DCP of North Delhi, she oversaw security arrangements for major events, including Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort and Delhi University elections.

Community-focused policing initiatives

Beyond investigations, Ms Prasad has been associated with community-focused programmes involving women’s self-defence, youth development, cyber safety and drug de-addiction.

During her CBI tenure, she was also associated with several prominent investigations. Media reports have linked her to cases concerning businessman Vijay Mallya and the AgustaWestland helicopter deal.

Current role in Delhi Police

After completing her assignment with the CBI, Ms Prasad returned to the Delhi Police and took charge as Joint Commissioner of Police in the Economic Offences Wing.

The latest recognition adds to her career spanning investigations, policing and public service across several challenging assignments.

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Kharge, Rahul Gandhi skip Independence Day event for 2nd straight year

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at the Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Published

1 day ago

on

August 15, 2026

By

Rahul Kharge

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi skipped the 80th Independence Day celebrations at Delhi’s Red Fort for the second consecutive year.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the Independence Day celebrations at the historic venue on Saturday.

The absence of the two senior Congress leaders comes amid strained relations between the ruling party and the Opposition, which further deteriorated during the Monsoon Session of Parliament that concluded on Thursday.

2024 seating controversy

Rahul Gandhi had attended the Independence Day celebrations in 2024 but his seating arrangement triggered a controversy. The Congress leader, who holds the status of a Cabinet minister as Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, was seated in the second-last row during the ceremony at the Red Fort.

The Opposition had criticised the seating arrangement, calling it an insult to the people. The Defence Ministry, which organised the event, said the arrangement had been modified to accommodate Olympians at the venue.

According to protocol, the Leader of the Opposition is seated in the front row during ceremonial events.

Opposition-ruling party tensions

Relations between the government and the Opposition remained tense during the Monsoon Session, which ended on Thursday.

The session saw repeated clashes between the two sides, with both the Opposition and the ruling party blaming each other for the low productivity of Parliament.

The session began on July 20, with students marching towards Parliament on the first day. Twelve bills were passed during the session, while detailed discussion took place on only one legislation, concerning paper leaks.

The Congress, along with the Trinamool Congress and Samajwadi Party, also boycotted the customary tea party hosted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla after the House was adjourned sine die.

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