Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, a notable figure in the Calcutta High Court, has announced his decision to resign from his position as a judge. His resignation, ahead of his scheduled retirement later this year, is motivated by his intent to enter the political sphere. Justice Gangopadhyay has been renowned for his rulings, particularly those concerning education-related issues, and he has been instrumental in uncovering and addressing corruption in the education sector.
A Kolkata native, Justice Gangopadhyay was born in 1962 and received his education from Mitra Institution, a Bengali medium school in south Kolkata. After completing his graduation from Hazra Law College, he embarked on a career in the West Bengal Civil Service as a Grade A officer in the Uttar Dinajpur district. Subsequently, he transitioned to practicing as a state lawyer in the Calcutta High Court before being appointed as an additional judge in 2018. Two years later, he was elevated to the position of a permanent judge.
Throughout his tenure as a high court judge, Justice Gangopadhyay has been no stranger to controversy. Last April, he made headlines for his comments in an interview regarding the ‘school jobs for cash scam’, implicating TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. This drew the ire of the Supreme Court, which criticized sitting judges for engaging in television interviews. Furthermore, Justice Gangopadhyay has issued directives to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate allegations of irregularities in the recruitment processes of teaching and non-teaching staff in West Bengal government-sponsored and -aided schools.
His decision to step down from the bench and enter politics is likely to have significant repercussions, given his reputation and the issues he has addressed during his time as a judge.
- According to reports, Justice Gangopadhyay was born in Kolkata in 1962. He attended Mitra Institution, a Bengali medium school in south Kolkata.
- After completing his graduation from Hazra Law College in Kolkata, Justice Gangopadhyay started his career in Uttar Dinajpur district, wherein he worked as a West Bengal Civil Service Grade A officer. He later quit as a civil service and began practising as a state lawyer in the Calcutta high court.
- Justice Gangopadhyay was elevated to the post of additional judge in 2018 and became a permanent judge two years later.
- As a high court judge, Justice Gangopadhyay sparked a major controversy last April by giving an interview to a TV channel. The then judge was hearing a case related to the ‘school jobs for cash scam’. In an interview to a TV channel, he spoke on the alleged role of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the matter, Bar and Bench reported. The Supreme Court while taking strong objection, had said that “sitting judges had no business giving interviews to TV channels”.
- Justice Gangopadhyay has issued several directives instructing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe allegations of irregularities in the recruitment processes of teaching and non-teaching staff in West Bengal government-sponsored and -aided schools.
