Rijiju assuming charge as the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs
Kiren Rijiju is a four time MP in Lok Sabha from Arunachal Pradesh (2004, 2014,2019
and 2024). He has served as minister of state (MoS) (independent charge) youth affairs and sports, MoS minority affairs, MoS home affairs, and Minister of Law and Justice. His tenure as Law Minister was marked by controversies. On 18 May 2023, he was assigned the portfolio of Ministry of Earth Sciences.[8] On 10 June 2024, he was appointed as the Union Cabinet Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs in the Government of India. He is one of the three Buddhist MPs in the 18th Lok Sabha.[9]
In 2022, Kiren called the collegium system of appointment of judges in Indian judicial system as "opaque", implying that appointments are done on personal associations rather than merit. He also advocated for government's role in the appointment of judges, writing to the Chief Justice of IndiaDY Chandrachud. His comments on judiciary and collegium system were widely criticised by the legal community and the Supreme Court.[8][10]
In March 2023, Kiren accused some retired judges to be a part of "Anti-India gang".[11] A group of former civil servants from the Constitutional Conduct Group responded by claiming Rijiju's comments a sign of "authoritarianism".[12]
He married Joram Rina Rijiju in 2004.[13] She is a graduate from Lady Shri Ram College for Women, New Delhi and is a gold medalist from Arunachal University. She is an Associate Professor teaching history at Dera Natung Government College, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh.[14]
