Judgment Disqualifying Indira Gandhi Was Of ‘Great Courage’: CJI Ramana

Chief Justice NV Ramana; pic courtesy: ANI

New Delhi: Chief Justice NV Ramana said that the judgement in 1975 that disqualified the then prime minister Indira Gandhi was a judgment of courage. The CJI said this at the foundation stone laying ceremony of the new building complex of the Allahabad High Court by President Ram Nath Kovind.

The event also included the foundation stone laying of the new National Law University, proposed to be established in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh.

“The Allahabad High Court has a history of more than 150 years. In 1975, it was Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha, who passed the judgement disqualifying PM Indira Gandhi, which shook the nation,” Justice Ramana was quoted as saying by NDTV.

The Chief Justice further said, “the judgment of great courage, which could be said to have directly resulted in the declaration of Emergency. The consequences of which I do not want to elaborate now.”

Indira Gandhi was found guilty by the Allahabad High of electoral malpractices and was disqualified from holding public office for six years. As a consequence, an Emergency was imposed in the country for two years.

While speaking at the event, Chief Justice Ramana expressed his gratitude and respect to President Kovind.

“I would like to take a few moments to place on record my gratitude for the support that the Honourable President of India always gives to the legal community. As a former lawyer himself, he understands the troubles and difficulties faced by those in the legal community and has always taken an active role in attempting to resolve any issues faced by us,” he said.

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