AGARTALA, March 18 (TIWN): When nationwide criticism erupted after former Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi accepted Rajya Sabha membership's nomination, Tripura’s former Chief Minister Manik Sarkar has added fuel saying, “Who knows when he will become a Minister".

Manik Sarkar said this after meeting injured 10323 teachers in IGM hospital, who were beaten by police during agitation.

Sarkar was mentioning how Supreme Court in 2017 cancelled all the jobs of 10323 teachers and then put stay order on 13000 non-teaching posts when Ranjan Gogoi was a justice. However, the hearing held by a division bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and Uday Umesh Lalit, on October 4, 2017 before Gogoi became Chief Justice.

“Now, people started questioing on justice system. Haven’t you seen the former Chief Justice (Ranjan Gogoi) is going to become Rajya Sabha member……who knows, when will he become a Minister. His last few verdicts have are too controversial nationally…..”, Manik Sarkar told media.

 “We were always with 10323 teachers. We opposed the decision of the High Court. We went to Supreme Court, spent crores and crores. Again and again we told Supreme Court that if poverty line is not maintained, then 90% teachers will lose jobs. So, poverty line was an important factor for recruitment. On that time, when media asked, we said that we will not allow 10323 teachers to wash away. Thus we found out way of alternative job arrangement via 13,000 posts. Surprise, against those posts also, case was filed. Supreme court gave verdict against those posts which created question in the public mind”, added Manik Sarkar.

However, Ranjan Gogoi’s acceptance of nomination to the Rajya Sabha could not escape the controversy.

Former Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph on Tuesday criticised former Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi for accepting the nomination to the Rajya Sabha, saying his decision will negatively affect the confidence of the common man on the independence of the judiciary.