Good wishes pour in for region's first CJI

GUWAHATI: The region was in a celebratory mood as justice Ranjan Gogoi was sworn in as the Chief Justice of India on Wednesday. Since morning, people were glued to their television sets to watch the historic moment unfurl.
Social media overflowed with greetings for Gogoi, who became the 46th CJI of the country, taking over from Dipak Misra, who retired on October 1. People across the board viewed the appointment with obvious pride and a sense of security. He was administered the oath of office by President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Congratulating him, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal stressed that it was a matter of great pride for Assam. "My best wishes for his successful tenure," said Sonowal. State health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the entire region was rejoicing.

Former chief minister Tarun Gogoi tweeted, "Congratulations to Ranjan Gogoi on being sworn in as the new CJI. It is a proud moment for the people of the entire NE. My best wishes for a fruitful tenure." The new CJI, who will turn 64 on November 18 this year, will have a tenure of a little over a year.

Senior SC advocate, Upamanyu Hazarika, said the region's first CJI is a representative figure of the northeast-embodying all the qualities that set the people apart. "Gogoi is the repository of values like truthfulness, courage and honesty, qualities characterising the people of the region," said Hazarika.

"He is a source of inspiration, particularly for the younger generation. That is because he built his career as a lawyer and a judge from Guwahati. This shows you do not have to go out of Assam to be successful. But talented students from Assam leave the state in search of greener pastures," lamented Hazarika.

Son of the former chief minister of Assam, Keshab Chandra Gogoi, he joined the bar in 1978 and practised at the Gauhati high court. Later, he was appointed as a permanent judge of the HC on February 28, 2001. After a nine-year stint at the HC, he was transferred to the Punjab and Haryana HC on September 9, 2010. A year later, he became the chief justice of Punjab and Haryana HC.

Motiur Rahman, working president of the Asom Sanmilita Mahansangha, one of the petitioners in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) update case, said celebrations apart, the people of the region see a hope in him to deliver them from years of injustice and discrimination.