In a major Cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, Union Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal has been assigned the portfolio of Law and Justice in the Modi Cabinet, while former Law Minister Kiren Rijiju has been transferred to the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, according to an official statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The communique informed that President Droupadi Murmu has assigned the portfolios based on the recommendations of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

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Meghwal is currently the Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and the Minister of State for Culture. The communique further added that he has been assigned independent charge as Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice in addition to these existing portfolios.

Meghwal's appointment came at a pivotal time, as the Supreme Court and the central government have disagreed on matters related to the appointment of justices to the higher judiciary. Arjun Ram Meghwal said that justice should be served to all shortly after taking over the Law and Justice Ministry. 

Rijiju's term in Law Ministry

Rijiju's term in the ministry has been controversial. The government and the judiciary had a number of disagreements regarding the appointment of judges during his term.

Rijiju's stint in the Law Ministry saw him criticising the collegium system of appointing Supreme Court and High Court judges and described it as being "alien" to the Constitution. Besides that, at a media event last year, he said that judges only recommend the appointment or elevation of those they know, not always the fittest person for the job.

The Supreme Court had issued a warning to the Centre in February about the delay in approving the transfer of High Court justices proposed by the collegium of the Supreme Court, saying it may result in both administrative and judicial actions that may not be palatable.

Rijiju to take charge of Ministry of Earth Sciences

Rijiju will take over from Union Minister Jitendra Singh, who was holding charge of the Ministry of Earth Sciences. He assumed the position of Minister of Law and Justice on July 8, 2021. 

Thanking the Chief Justice of India, Dr. Justice DY Chandrachud, and other judges, the outgoing Law Minister said, "I thank Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, all Judges of the Supreme Court, Chief Justices and Judges of High Courts, Lower Judiciary, and entire Law officers, for the huge support in ensuring delivering ease of Justice and providing legal services for our citizens."

"I look forward to fulfilling the vision of Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi ji in the Earth Sciences Ministry with the same zeal and vigour I have imbibed as a humble karyakarta of the BJP," he added.

"It has been a privilege and an honour to serve as Union Minister of Law and Justice under the guidance of Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi ji," said Rijiju.