250+ Advocates Of Calcutta High Court Write To CJ Flagging Alleged 'Lack Of Courtesy, Decorum & Etiquette' Shown By Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay To AG

Over 250 advocates of Calcutta High Court have written to Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam lodging their protest over the alleged lack of courtesy, civility decorum and etiquette shown by Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay to the Advocate General of the State of West Bengal during the course of judicial proceedings on 25th January 2024.

The proceedings in question relate to improper admissions to medical colleges in West Bengal and were the centre of controversy when Justice Gangopadhyay ignored a division bench's stay order on his direction for a CBI probe.

This led to the matter being taken up suo moto by the Supreme Court which stayed all proceedings in the case and transferred the case to itself. 

The letter calls the Advocate General, the leader of the Bar, and says that in 25th January's hearing, Justice Gangopadhyay upon being told about the division bench's stay order became incensed and made extremely uncharitable, demeaning and defamatory comments about the Advocate General...and cast aspersions on the character, moral fibre and integrity of the AG."

"The said comments were unprovoked and uncalled for...Justice Abhiiit Gangopadhyay transgressed all limits of decorum by hurling insults and insinuations on the Advocate General," the letter adds.

The letter refers to the AG being a constitutional functionary of the State under Article 165 of the Constitution and says that in insulting the AG, Justice Gangopadhyay has indicated a lack of true faith and allegiance to the Constitution.

It is stated that the insult to Justice Gnagopadhyay was an affront on the entire body of practising advocates in West Bengal, and the signatories requested the CJ to "redeem the honour and dignity" of the Court and sought an apology from Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay.

The oldest Chartered High Court in India itself has been humiliated, by the aforesaid incident. The majesty and dignity of this Court have been severely affected by the aforesaid conduct of the Judge towards the leader of the Bar i.e., the Learned Advocate General. Such an unsavoury incident cannot be recalled ever, in the annals of this Court, it stated.

This is not the first time Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay has had a skirmish with members of the Bar; there has been a penchant for controversy in the recent past.

Click here to read letter