After 250+ Lawyers Write To Calcutta High Court Chief Justice Flagging Conduct Towards AG, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay Tenders Apology

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the Calcutta High Court has tendered an unconditional apology to Advocate General Kishore Datta in his courtroom after the judge had been accused of showing a lack of courtesy, etiquette and decorum to the AG, in a letter written by more than 250 advocates addressed to Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam.

The incident occurred when the AG attempted to inform Justice Gangopadhyay of a division bench stay order when the Judge allegedly 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 stated.

Notably, the proceedings in the aforesaid case led to Justice Gangopadhyay ignoring the division bench's order, leading to the Supreme Court transferring the case to itself. 

Today, upon calling the AG to his courtroom, Justice Gangopadhyay expressed regret for his earlier actions, "I have known you [AG] for nearly 37 years...I am apologetic...I was angry and said a lot of things..everyone in the Bar must know I am apologetic,” he stated.

Notably, this was not a one-off incident, and Justice Gangopadhyay has been surrounded by controversy in the recent past as well.