Former Madhya Pradesh High Court judge Justice Rohit Arya joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Saturday. This is almost three months after his retirement. BJP Madhya Pradesh Chief Dr. Raghavendra Sharma officially welcomed Justice Arya into the party during a program at the BJP State Office in Bhopal.
Legal Career and Background of Rohit Arya
Justice Arya, born in 1962, enrolled as an advocate in 1984. In 2003, the Madhya Pradesh High Court designated him as a senior advocate. His major practice areas included civil law, commercial law, arbitration, administrative law, service law, labor law, and tax law. He represented entities such as the Central Government, State Bank of India, Telecom Department, BSNL, Employees State Insurance Corporation, and the Income Tax Department.
In 2013, he was elevated to the position of Judge of the High Court and was sworn in as a permanent Judge in 2015. Justice Arya retired on April 27, 2024.
Notable Judicial Decisions
The Munawar Faruqui Case
In 2021, Justice Arya denied bail to comedian Munawar Faruqui and Nalin Yadav, who faced accusations of hurting religious sentiments. He emphasized the constitutional duty of every citizen and the State to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood, as outlined in Article 51A(e) and (f) of the Constitution. Justice Arya stated, “The State must endeavor to ensure that this ecosystem and sustenance of coexistence in our welfare society is not polluted by negative forces.”
The Supreme Court later granted bail to Faruqui, setting aside the High Court’s order.
The “Rakhi for Bail” Controversy
In 2020, Justice Arya granted bail to a man accused of outraging the modesty of a woman, with the controversial condition that the accused present himself before the complainant so she could tie a “rakhi” on his wrist. He also ordered the bail applicant and his wife to visit the complainant’s house on Raksha Bandhan day with a Rakhi thread and a box of sweets. Furthermore, the applicant had to promise to protect the complainant to the best of his ability for all times to come.
The Supreme Court strongly criticized these bail conditions and subsequently set them aside, issuing a series of directives for lower courts to follow in cases related to crimes against women.
Justice Rohit Arya’s entry into politics with the BJP marks a significant addition to the party, reflecting the growing trend of retired judges transitioning to political roles.