KOLKATA: Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash of the Calcutta High Court made headlines on Monday with his farewell speech, where he openly declared his allegiance to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He emphasized that despite distancing himself for professional reasons over the past 37 years, his ideological commitment to the organization remained unchanged.
“To the distaste of some, I must admit here that I was and am a member of RSS. (But) I don’t have any bias against anybody,” Dash stated. This declaration comes shortly after his former colleague Abhijit Gangopadhyay resigned to join the BJP and became the party’s candidate for the Tamluk Lok Sabha seat.
Dash expressed his readiness to rejoin the RSS, stating, “I am ready to go back to the organisation (RSS) if it calls me for any assistance for any work that I am capable of doing.” He also highlighted that he never leveraged his RSS affiliation for career advancement, aligning with the organization’s principles.
Integrity and Justice: A Judge’s Commitment
In his address, Dash emphasized his impartiality, saying, “I have treated everybody on a par – the rich, the poor, a Communist, or someone with BJP, Congress or Trinamool. All were equal before me.” He reiterated that his judicial decisions were guided by empathy and the law, even if it meant bending the law to serve justice.
Dash also reflected on a controversial ruling earlier in the year regarding the sexual abuse of a minor. The division bench he led had made contentious observations, prompting the Supreme Court to criticize the remarks as “wrong and problematic.” Despite the controversy, Dash maintained that his goal was to ensure justice was served equitably.
Call for Reform and Acknowledgment of Criticism
The outgoing judge called for the modernization of some “archaic” rules within the Calcutta HC, urging cooperation between the Chief Justice and the bar to move forward and adapt to current times.
Dash’s farewell comes amid heightened scrutiny of the judiciary by political leaders. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has frequently accused certain HC judges of legal bias. Following a recent court verdict in the cash-for-school jobs case, she alleged at an election rally, “Courts have been purchased. I am not talking about the Supreme Court.” This led to a division bench, including Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam, considering petitions for suo motu action against the chief minister for allegedly insulting the judiciary.
Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash’s candid farewell underscores the ongoing discourse around judicial impartiality, political affiliations, and the evolution of legal frameworks in India.
