‘Serve People As Living Gods’: Justice Rabindranath Samanta Bids Farewell To Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court on Friday convened a Full-Court Reference on the occasion of Farewell of Justice Rabindranath Samanta. He was elevated to the Calcutta High Court as an Additional Judge in August 2021, and was made a permanent judge in May 2022. Prior to being elevated, he had served as a member of the District Judiciary in West Bengal since 1987, and had risen through various ranks of the district courts over the last 35 years in service.

In his speech, Justice Samanta thanked all the people that he worked with throughout his career in the Judicial Services, he paid homage to those had passed on since then, and also paid homage to his parents.

In addressing how being a Judicial Officer at District level and then from the Higher Judiciary has enriched his life, and how the judiciary plays a role in the lives of common people, Justice Samanta reflected:

“if anyone asks me what my feeling is, being associated with judiciary for 35 years, I am proud I belong to this institution. By God’s grace I got the privilege to serve the people of my country. What is the object of life? Ramkrishna says it is to realise God. How will it be achieved? He tells us “serve people as living gods”. Similar thoughts are echoed by the Supreme court in Olga Tellis v Bombay Municipal Corporation. In that case the Supreme Court intervened to protect the rights of the poorest people and gave relief to pavement dwellers. They even observed “god smiles in the smiles of the poor”. We wanted a complete civilisation but always there has been suffering of people, pain of people…fundamental rights, human rights being trampled. Judiciary plays a very very important role to protect this. As a member of both district and higher judiciary, I am fortunate I could serve people who are living gods. Many come from poorest of poor families, deprived…judiciary protects them. After giving them relief, the happiness that I got is immense.”

In anecdotally discussing his decades of service as Judicial Officer, Justice Samanta laid emphasis on the role played by the district judiciary in the Judicial system as well as in the lives of each and every litigant who approaches it. He shared an event from his days as a Judicial Officer in Alipore Court, Kolkata, he remembered, “as District judge of Alipore…I had to work hard….till 6/7pm…but matters gave me happiness…one day I found at 6pm that old man with a child was waiting…I asked why they were waiting outside an empty court…the boy had lost his parents…and they were waiting for appointment of guardian….I called for the lawyer immediately, took evidence and disposed of the matter by appointing a guardian….it gave me immense pleasure.”

Discussing his experiences in the Calcutta High Court, Justice Samanta praised the eruditeness of the Counsels and their argumentation and thanked them for assisting him in delivering justice. He noted, “In the High Court I got the opportunity to take up writ jurisdiction….I found that if the judge has an innovative mind….relief can be granted to hapless, neglected, tortured persons….I got unique experiences as a judge of this Court…such erudite lawyers…so many rich arguments…I was amazed…. I was able delivered my judgements because of their assistance….they seemed like painters, painting their pictures before the court…I like the creativity…and the innovative ideas….I express my gratitude to the counsels who enabled me to administer justice.”

In concluding an emotional and nostalgic speech, Justice Samanta left everyone with words of encouragement, underlining the message going forward and the relevance and importance of the Judiciary and the strength and independence of the Bar, he concluded “So long as civilisation will exist, judiciary will too…. It’s independence and fairness will be dependent on an independent and fair bar… I hope and believe that the flag of independence and fair justice will flutter with their assistance….let the motto be, to quote Upanishads, “I will arise and stop not till the goal is reached”….. Mr Chief Justice, the glory of the High Court has remained from the time of Chittaranjan Das…and still High Court remains the guardian of the people.”

During the ceremony, Advocate General S.N. Mookherjee expressed his admiration for Justice Samanta’s contribution to the High Court through his judgements, especially in recognising “Dearness Allowance” as a Fundamental Right. The AG concluded by noting, “I had the privilege of appearing in that matter and must admit that I didn’t have clear answers to many of his questions……Justice Samanta has had an excellent relationship with the bar…….conducted himself with dignity…and above all has been a patient listener……Advocates of this Court love him for that…..best wishes of the bar.”

The Deputy Solicitor General for the Union of India, Billwadal Bhattacharya also expressed his gratitude and best wishes to Justice Samanta. He acknowledged Justice Samanta’s contribution to the literary field and said that this may just be a beginning for Justice Samanta to be able to share more of his creative experiences through his poems, and writings, even in the “Udbhotan” magazine started by Swami Vivekananda.

The DSG acknowledged Justice Samanta’s contribution to the field of legal empowerment of women through his writings, aimed at gender justice and even recalled that Justice Samanta’s judicial experience of 35 years, may be more than the age of newer members of the Bar.

He concluded by saying, “[I] can happily say that his justice is always poetic justice…because it was justice rendered by a poet… his span was short but the memories he leaves us with are indelible….thank you for granting such patient hearing to us….in such complex matters…with a happy face……irrespective of outcome….lawyers always walked out happy from your court….I wish you all the best and a very happy birthday in advance…”

Messages of gratitude and best wishes also came from the Presidents and Secretaries of the High Court Bar Association, Bar Library Club and Incorporated Law Society.