Former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi alleged that several media houses force judges to behave the way they want and said many judges are succumbing to such narratives, which is the “real threat”.
A media report quoted Ranjan Gogoi as saying at the India Today Conclave: “What is this attack? Will a judge or a former judge be cowed down by attacks? Will he ever be able to function if he’s afraid of being attacked while in office or after office?”
“If a judge is made conscious that look, you better do what I want, otherwise post retirement you’ll be attacked in the media — India Today, NDTV 24X7, Indian Express, the web portals – ‘we are telling you conduct yourself the way we want or else we’ll attack you.”
“Can a judge be cowed down by that? Unfortunately there are many who are succumbing. This is the real threat,” Gogoi, who is a nominated Rajya Sabha MP, said.
Gogoi’s comment comes after Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra’s attack on the former Chief Justice of India in the Parliament.
The former CJI, however, said he would not take any legal recourse against Mahua Moitra.
In the Parliament last week, Mahua Moitra raised the issue of sexual harassment charge against Gogoi.
“She didn’t even have her facts correct. If you are making allegations, at least name the person. I have a name and I deserve to be named. Those allegations are wrong in facts,” the report quoted Gogoi as saying.