Belonged To RSS From Childhood To Youth, Ready To Go Back: Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash Bids Farewell To Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court on Monday bid farewell to Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash in a full-court reference.

Justice Dash graduated in Law from Madhu Sudan Law College, Cuttack in the year, in 1985. Obtained Degree of LL.M. as a Non-collegiate candidate in Utkal University.

He enrolled as an Advocate in 1986 and joined the service in the Cadre of Orissa Superior Judicial Service (Senior Branch) as a Direct Recruit on 16.02.1999. He worked as Additional District & Sessions Judge, Sambalpur, Additional District & Sessions Judge, Deogarh, Special Judge (Vigilance), Sambalpur, District & Sessions Judge, Keonjhar, District & Sessions Judge, Berhampur, Chairman, Orissa Sales Tax Tribunal, Cuttack and Registrar (Administration) of Orissa High Court, Cuttack.

Justice Dash was elevated as an Additional Judge of the Orissa High Court on 07.10.2009 and transferred and Appointed as a Judge of the High Court at Calcutta with effect from 20th June 2022.

He was also at the centre of controversy when he was part of a bench which delivered a judgement containing certain codes of conduct for adolescent girls to 'control their sexual urges.' The judgement was taken up by the Supreme Court which took severe exception to the remarks. 

In his farewell speech Justice Dash reflected on the heritage of the Calcutta High Court stating that 200 years ago when it was established, it even served as the Supreme Court for the country. Justice Dash stated that the heritage had since been lost and the High Court had lost its leadership in a pan-India context.

He further stated that he was a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and that he owed a lot to the organisation and was ready to rejoin them, after distancing from them for over 37 years, if they would deem him fit.

"I belonged to an organisation...a mercenary organisation. I owe them a lot. They taught me courage, and to treat people equally...it is here that I have to admit that I was, and still am a member of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh," he said.

"I have moved away for 37 years but have never used my membership in the organisation to any advantage. I have treated everybody at par. I believed in empathy and that the law can be bent to do justice but justice cannot be bent to suit the law. I am ready to go back to (RSS) if they need me for any work. I have not done anything wrong so I can say that I belong to the (RSS) because that is not wrong either," the judge added.

Justice Dash stated that he maintained impartiality for every litigant before his court irrespective of political affiliations. He urged the junior members of the Bar to maintain the High Court's legacy and thanked all those who facilitated his journey.