"They were not delivering justice but..." Sanjay Raut questions Calcutta HC Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay for political aspirations

Mar 04, 2024

Mumbai (Maharastra) [India], March 4 : Expressing his concern about Calcutta HC Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay's political aspirations, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut on Monday suggested that when sitting judges resign and "join" a particular political party, it means "they were not delivering justice but working for the party".
"If sitting judges of the High Court and Supreme Court resign and join a particular political party, it means they were not delivering justice, but working for the party," Raut said.
The remarks were made during an interaction with the media in Mumbai on Monday.
Responding to a query, he said, "Modiji and his government has been always lying (to the people). (His) goverment is thriving on the falsehood."
"How much will you lie? Speak as much lies as you can for the remaning two-three months," he alleged, taking a dig at PM Modi without taking names. Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in April-May.
Justice Gangopadhyay, whose ruling on various issues had stirred debates, has said that he will be resigning from the post citing that it is the call of his conscience that his job in this duty is over.
"I am going to resign from the post of a judge in High Court Calcutta. For the last two or more years I have been dealing with some matters, especially education matters, regarding which a huge corruption has been discovered and unearthed. A large number of important persons in the education sector of this government are now languishing in jail, under trial. Thereafter, now I am taking labour matters. There are also large scams of employers concerning provident fund gratuity, etc. I have also passed certain orders in those respects. But what I have failed while doing these matters of labour matters, labour legislation, that I have felt that my job in this duty is over. This is the call of my conscience," he told ANI.
"Now I should go to the larger people, larger area," he added.
Further, the Calcutta High Court Judge pointed out that in court, a judge deals with the matters that come before him if a person files a case. But in our country and also in our state, West Bengal, there are a large number of very helpless people whom I have found who cannot come to the court.
Also, hinting at joining politics, Justice Gangopadhyay said, "So I have thought that only the political field can give people who want to take steps in respect of those helpless people a chance to act for them."
However, responding to a question about joining any political party, he said that he has not decided yet.
Earlier in February, the Supreme Court tagged Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee's plea to issue directions to take action against Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay for his alleged "continuous politically motivated interviews" in connection with sub-judice cases.