BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has stirred controversy by invoking the name of Justice Baharul Islam to target Congress, claiming that the former judge’s career was marked by political favoritism. Nishikant Dubey, who has been under fire for his remarks about the Supreme Court inciting religious conflicts, posted on social media highlighting Justice Islam’s ties to Congress, alleging that his judicial appointments were politically motivated. These remarks have further ignited the ongoing debate over the judiciary’s independence and the Congress party’s role in judicial appointments.
Nishikant Dubey’s posts on the microblogging site X raised eyebrows by alleging that Justice Islam was appointed to the Rajya Sabha in 1962 as a form of “appeasement” by Congress. He claimed that Islam was appointed as a high court judge in 1972 without resigning from the Upper House and later served as the acting Chief Justice of the Assam High Court in 1979. According to Nishikant Dubey, Islam’s elevation to the Supreme Court in 1980 and his later involvement in dropping corruption charges against former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were clear signs of political favoritism. Nishikant Dubey even suggested that Congress orchestrated his retirement from the Supreme Court in 1983, only to send him back to the Rajya Sabha for a third term.
Justice Baharul Islam’s career has been a subject of political debate for years. Born on March 1, 1918, Islam began his education in Assam before moving on to Aligarh Muslim University. After becoming an advocate in the Assam High Court in 1951, he was appointed to the Rajya Sabha in 1962 and re-elected in 1968. Islam was later appointed as the Chief Justice of the Gauhati High Court in 1979, but his career saw a dramatic shift when he was appointed as a Supreme Court judge in 1980. His tenure as a Supreme Court judge was marked by controversy, especially regarding his involvement in cases connected to Indira Gandhi’s government.
Nishikant Dubey’s recent remarks have added fuel to the ongoing controversy surrounding the independence of India’s judiciary. Nishikant Dubey had previously criticized the Supreme Court for overstepping its bounds and suggested that its involvement in legislative matters, such as the Waqf (Amendment) Act, undermines the role of Parliament. His comments have sparked discussions about the judiciary’s role in shaping laws and the potential influence of political interests in judicial appointments.
