Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the Calcutta High Court submitted his resignation on Tuesday, and shortly after this announces that he will join Bhartiya Janta Party on 7th March. Speculations are that he may contest Loksabha Election through the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the Lok Sabha polls approach.
His decision comes after a period of anticipation and discussions among the legal community, with some lawyers and litigants having previously urged him to reconsider his decision to step down from his position at the High Court.
On Monday, Justice Gangopadhyay had expressed his intent to resign, citing the completion of his duties as a judge and his desire to pursue other interests.
His impending resignation had already been announced on Sunday when he mentioned his plan to submit his resignation to the President on March 5.
However, the judge has remained reticent about his future plans, particularly regarding a move into politics, promising to address all inquiries from the media post-resignation.
Justice Gangopadhyay’s tenure at the Calcutta High Court has been marked by significant rulings, particularly on education-related issues in West Bengal, which have often sparked political discourse.
Before his appointment to the bench, he practiced law at the high court for 24 years, joining as an additional judge on May 2, 2018, and later being elevated to a permanent judge on July 30, 2020.
