Cabinet reshuffle: Kiren Rijiju sacked, Meghwal new law minister

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New Delhi: The central government has shocked everyone by suddenly changing the cabinet on Thursday morning. This news has surfaced only after the President approved the reshuffle of the government in the cabinet. The government has transferred Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju and Minister of State SP Vaghel and Rajasthan leader Arjun Ram Meghwal has been given independent charge of the Law Ministry. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has been given independent charge of the Ministry of Earth Sciences while SP Baghel has been made the Minister of State for Health. Rijiju is believed to have been transferred due to friction with the judiciary.

Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Arjun Ram Meghwal has been given independent charge of the Law Ministry by the Union Government on Thursday. The sudden cabinet transfer of 51-year-old Kiren Rijiju has sparked a lot of debate in political circles. According to sources, Kiren Rijiju created many controversies after taking over as the Law Minister in July 2021 by criticizing the judiciary. After the Supreme Court’s comments on the central government, the then Law Minister Kiren Rijiju made several strong statements about the judiciary. As Law Minister, Kiren Rijiju was most active in criticizing the collegium that appoints Supreme Court and High Court judges and termed the system as such. as unconstitutional. He termed some former Supreme Court and High Court judges and activists as part of anti-India gangs. His comments drew fierce reactions.

Arjun Ram Meghwal, the new minister in charge of the Law Ministry, categorically denied any tension between the government and the judiciary. After Kiren Rijiju’s scathing statements on the judiciary, it was believed that there was a conflict between the central government and the judiciary. However, Meghwal said, there is no difference between the government and the judiciary. The relationship between the executive and the judiciary is cordial and will remain constitutional. The limits of both are already fixed in the constitution. It works accordingly. Speedy justice for all will be my priority. Cabinet reshuffle has nothing to do with Rajasthan elections.

On the other hand, Kiren Rijiju has tweeted thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Justice DY Chandrachud after his removal from the Law Ministry. With this he wrote that now he will work in the Ministry of Earth Sciences with the same enthusiasm. He tweeted that he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, all judges of Supreme Court and High Court, all officers of the Ministry of Law.

In a brief statement on Thursday morning, Rashtrapati Bhavan said, “Reshuffle of portfolios of ministers in the Union Cabinet has been approved on the advice of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.” Kiren Rijiju has been assigned the Ministry of Earth Sciences. Presently, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture Minister Meghwal has been given independent charge of the Ministry of Law and Justice. Minister of State for Law SP Baghel has been transferred to the Ministry of Health. Rijiju will replace Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who holds the charge of the Ministry of Earth Sciences.

Meghwal is a former IAS officer and legal expert.

One of the important reasons for handing over the Law Ministry to Arjun Ram Meghwal is the Rajasthan assembly elections to be held later this year. Meghwals, who retired as IAS officers and entered politics, represent 60 percent of the Meghwal population in Rajasthan. The Meghwal community is still considered a major vote bank of the Congress. Meghwal has vast administrative experience and even today he comes to Parliament by bicycle.