Retired judge on Ayodhya bench, four BJP leaders get governorships in India

 In what confirms nexus between the Hindutiva government of Bharatiya Janata Party and Indian judiciary, President Droupadi Murmu has appointed retired Supreme Court judge S Abdul Nazeer, who was part of the controversial 2019 Ayodhya verdict, and four BJP leaders as governors of different Indian states.

Justice Nazeer is the third SC judge associated with the Ayodhya verdict to assume a post-retirement position.

Former CJI Ranjan Gogoi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha. Justice Ashok Bhushan was named chairperson of National Company Law Appellate Tribunal

Justice S. Abdul Nazeer will be the Andhra Pradesh Governor. The incumbent, Biswabhusan Harichandan, has been shifted to Chhattisgarh.

Justice Nazeer, who retired on January 4, has been part of apex court Constitution Benches that have delivered several controversial judgments, perceived to be toeing in Hindutva lines, including the 2019 Ayodhya verdict and the 2017 judgment deeming triple talaq unconstitutional.

On January 2 this year, a five-judge Constitution Bench led by Justice Nazeer declared that the November 8, 2016, decision of the government to demonetise currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 denomination did not suffer from any illegality.

The Congress has questioned the appointment of a retired Supreme Court judge as a governor. The Congress attacked the government over Nazeer’s appointment and called the move a “great threat” to the independence of the judiciary.