In a bold move that has sent ripples through the Indian judiciary and political landscape, Calcutta High Court Judge, Abhijit Gangopadhyay, has announced his resignation in a sensational interview given on March 4, 2024. Scheduled to retire on August 19, 2024, at the age of 62, Gangopadhyay’s premature departure from his position has sparked widespread discussion. The judge, who is ranked 23rd in seniority at one of the country’s oldest High Courts, which currently has 51 judges, cited his conscience as the driving force behind his decision, hinting at a potential foray into politics.
Who is Justice Gangopadhyay?
Born in Kolkata in August 1962, Gangopadhyay embarked on his legal career after studying law at the Hazra Law College of Calcutta University. He initially joined the West Bengal Civil Service as an ‘A’ grade officer and notably took a stand against corruption as a Land Revenue Officer, a move that allegedly led to threats against his life. Eventually, Gangopadhyay resigned from his civil service position, turned to legal practice in Kolkata, and was appointed as an Additional Judge at the Calcutta High Court on May 2, 2018. He became a Permanent Judge three years later.
Controversial Cases
Gangopadhyay has been at the center of controversy due to his rulings on several high-profile cases, particularly those involving corruption charges against the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal. His outspokenness and decisive actions have garnered both praise and criticism.
Medical College Admission Scandal: One of the notable cases involved irregularities in the admissions to medical colleges in West Bengal. Gangopadhyay directed the West Bengal Police to hand over documents related to the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), a move later challenged by a division bench headed by Justice Soumen Sen, who accused Gangopadhyay of working for a political party. Despite a stay on his order, Gangopadhyay reiterated his directive for the CBI to take over the investigation, causing a significant uproar.
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West Bengal School Recruitment Scam: Another major case presided over by Gangopadhyay was the alleged school recruitment scam in West Bengal. He ordered a halt to the appointment of 32,000 teachers and called for a CBI investigation into the matter. Although this decision was temporarily stayed by a division bench, it had already made significant waves in public discourse. Critics accused Gangopadhyay of bias towards the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while his supporters lauded his stand against corruption.
