In a notable development in Indian politics, former Madhya Pradesh High Court Judge, Justice Rohit Arya, has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Arya articulated that his decision was influenced by a shared philosophy with the BJP, highlighting his alignment with the party’s ideology.
During a seminar organized by the Madhya Pradesh BJP, Arya was approached by party members who encouraged his association with the party. “I was overwhelmed, and I didn’t say no,” Arya remarked, indicating a warm reception to the idea of entering the political arena, albeit in a non-electoral capacity.
Arya clarified his intentions within the political landscape, stating, “Politics is not my cup of tea. I have no interest in electoral politics and don’t intend to fight elections. I just want to be in public life.” He expressed his desire to leverage the political platform to materialize his ideas for public welfare, planning to provide the BJP with many suggestions to aid in policy-making.
Justice Arya’s judicial career has been marked by his tenure as a judge at the Madhya Pradesh High Court, beginning his appointment on September 12, 2013, and later becoming a permanent judge on March 26, 2015. Throughout his career, he presided over several high-profile cases.
One of the most notable was his 2021 decision denying bail to comedians Munawar Faruqui and Nalin Yadav, who were accused of offending religious sentiments during a New Year’s event in Indore. In his ruling, Arya emphasized the constitutional duty to foster harmony and brotherhood. However, the Supreme Court later set aside this decision, granting bail to Faruqui.
Another controversial decision by Arya came in 2020 when he granted bail to a man accused of outraging a woman’s modesty on the condition that the accused present himself to the complainant on Raksha Bandhan for her to tie a rakhi on his wrist, symbolizing a protective brother-sister relationship. This decision faced widespread criticism and was eventually overturned by the Supreme Court, which also provided guidelines for lower courts on handling bail petitions in cases involving crimes against women.
Also Read
Born on April 28, 1962, Arya has had a distinguished career in both the judiciary and legal practice. He was enrolled as an advocate in August 1984 and designated as a senior advocate by the Madhya Pradesh High Court in August 2003. His legal practice spanned a variety of fields including civil, corporate, arbitration, administrative, labor laws, and tax laws, representing notable entities like the central government, State Bank of India, and BSNL.
