Calcutta High Court Judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay Resigns amidst Speculations of joining Politics

Calcutta High Court Judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay resigned from his position on Tuesday amidst speculations of him making a foray into politics ahead of the all-important 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. He submitted his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, with copies sent to Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court TS Sivagnanam.

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay had announced his intention to resign from his post on Sunday. "I am going to resign from the post of a judge in the Calcutta high court. 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," said Justice Gangopadhyay who oversaw hearings on contentious cases like the school jobs for cash scam. "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 added.

The former Calcutta High Court judge arrived at his chamber in the morning to tender his resignation. He is slated to address the media in the afternoon, where he is likely to reveal his plans, amidst speculation of his entry into politics holding the Bharatiya Janata Party’s hands. Since the former judge announced his intention to resign, there have been rumors suggesting he might be nominated as the BJP's candidate for West Bengal's Tamluk parliamentary seat, previously held by Suvendu Adhikari and currently occupied by his brother, Dibyendu Adhikari.

Since 2018, Justice Gangopadhyay has been a high court judge, known for controversial rulings. He had faced criticism for giving a TV interview while presiding over a case on the 'school jobs for cash scam', discussing the alleged involvement of TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The Supreme Court rebuked this action, stating sitting judges should refrain from media engagements. Gangopadhyay also initiated investigations by the CBI and ED into alleged irregularities in the recruitment processes of teaching and non-teaching staff in government-sponsored and aided schools in West Bengal.