NB Explains |Kiren Rijiju moved out of law ministry, gets Ministry of Earth Sciences ; Know possible reason of govt's sudden move

"The portfolio of Ministry of Earth Science be assigned to Shri Kiren Rijiju. Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, MoS be assigned the independent charge as MoS in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to his existing portfolios, in place of Shri Kiren Rijuju," the document added.

NewsBharati    18-May-2023 11:20:07 AM
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New Delhi, May 18 : In a surprise reshuffle in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi Cabinet, the Arjun Ram Meghwal was appointed as the new law minister replacing Kiren Rijiju on Thursday.
 
Rijiju has now been assigned Ministry of Earth Sciences.This sudden development has raised many eyebrows. In place of Rijiju, Arjun Ram Meghwal has been assigned the independent charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to his existing portfolios, the press statement further said.
 
 
Kiren Rijiju
 
Rijiju took over as the law minister on 8 July 2021. Prior to that, he served as the minister of state with independent charge of Youth Affairs and Sports from May 2019.
 
The President of India, as advised by the Prime Minister, has been pleased to direct the following reallocation of portfolios among Ministers in the Union Council of Members, read a press communication piece shared by the Rashtrapati Bhavan and accessed by DD news.
 
 
 
"The portfolio of Ministry of Earth Science be assigned to Shri Kiren Rijiju. Shri Arjun Ram Meghwal, MoS be assigned the independent charge as MoS in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to his existing portfolios, in place of Shri Kiren Rijuju," the document added.
 
But why this sudden reshuffle ahead of Loksabha election 2024
 
For unreserved, BJP leader from Arunachal Pradesh Rijiju has been in landed in many controversies over his remarks on the judiciary and the collegium system for appointment of judges. On the serval ocassions, Rijiju has expressed his displeasure over the collegium system of the judiciary. He questioned the collegium system of appointing judges and the division of powers between the executive and judiciary.
 
On, May 02 this year, Rijiju also took jibe at his ow govt saying the Narendra Modi government has not done anything to undermine the judiciary's independence, and every institution should respect the `Lakshman rekha' or boundary set by the Constitution.
 
 
Earlier, taking a jibe at the slow pace of the justice delivery system, he said that due to their engagement in the appointment and transfer related matters, their primary job of delivering justice is suffering. Moreover, the Rijiju has also termed the collegium system “opaque”, “alien to the Constitution” and the “only system in the world where judges appoint people known to them”.
 
Earlier this week, the Supreme Court quashed a plea by the Bombay Lawyers Association (BLA) against Rijiju's remarks over the collegium system for appointment of judges. The BLA claimed the Union minister showed a lack of faith in the constitution with his remarks and conduct. It also sought orders to restrain Rijiju from discharging his duties as the Union cabinet minister.
 
It is being said that government has probably took this decision to avoid controversy before the election.

Who is Arjun Ram Meghwal
 
Arjun Ram Meghwal earlier served as the Minister of State for Culture of India. In the earlier Modi government, the BJP leader Meghwal was the Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises. He was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 2009 representing the Bikaner constituency, Rajasthan. He was awarded the Best Parliamentarian in 2013.