Former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Monday demanded an apology from the state government for the incident at Kamakhya temple here on October 17 where Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi was inconvenienced because of a lack of security arrangements.
Describing the incident as “unfortunate and condemnable”, the All Assam Lawyers’ Association also said the impudence of the Assam government officials, who did not have knowledge about the precedence of a CJI, was a contempt of the Constitution of India.
Dispur on Saturday suspended West Guwahati deputy commissioner of police Bhanwar Lal Meena and Kamrup (metro) additional deputy commissioner Prasanta Pratim Kathkatia in connection with the incident.
The commotion at Kamakhya temple was triggered by presence of BJP national president Amit Shah, along with Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, BJP Assam state president Ranjeet Kumar Dass and cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
A large number of BJP supporters had gathered when Shah visited the temple. The CJI was also present at the time.
Gogoi said the CJI ranks sixth in the order of precedence. Shah enjoys the precedence as a MP, which is ranked 21.
In order of precedence, the CJI comes after the President (rank 1), Vice-President, Prime Minister, governors of states, former Presidents and deputy Prime Ministers.
“We all were proud when a son of this state became the CJI for the first time after the country got Independence. But what we witnessed on
October 17 was unfortunate. The state government did not show proper respect to CJI Gogoi. The state government should apologise for it,” said Gogoi.
The state government on Monday suspended additional deputy commissioner of Kamrup (metro) Pulak Mahanta for allegedly referring to CJI Gogoi in a disrespectful manner before the guard of honour at the LGBI Airport on October 17.
Mahanta had referred to the CJI as hei tu (that one), prompting the All Assam Ahom Association and All Assam Lawyers’ Association to demand punitive measures against him.
