In Kolkata, Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash, upon concluding his tenure as a judge of the Calcutta High Court on Monday, disclosed his affiliation with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Addressing those gathered for his farewell at the high court, including fellow judges and members of the bar, Justice Dash expressed his willingness to reengage with the organization should they require his expertise or assistance.
“I must acknowledge, albeit to the chagrin of some, my longstanding association with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS),” he remarked. Departing after serving over 14 years as a high court judge, Justice Dash transitioned to the Calcutta HC from the Orissa HC through a transfer. “My indebtedness to the organization is profound… I have been affiliated with it since my formative years and throughout my adolescence,” he elaborated.
“I have imbibed values of fortitude, integrity, impartiality, and, above all, a fervent dedication to duty,” he affirmed. Justice Dash divulged that he had distanced himself from the organization for approximately 37 years due to his professional engagements. “I have refrained from leveraging my association with the organization for personal gain as it contradicts its ethos,” he clarified.
Justice Dash emphasized his egalitarian approach towards all individuals, irrespective of their socioeconomic status or political affiliations, be it communism, BJP, Congress, or TMC (Trinamool Congress). “I treat everyone equally, devoid of any prejudice towards specific ideologies or individuals,” he asserted, underscoring his commitment to dispense justice with empathy and the belief that “while the law may be malleable to serve justice, justice remains immutable.”
Reiterating his readiness to collaborate with the organization should they require his expertise, Justice Dash reiterated, “For I have conducted myself with integrity throughout my life, and I take pride in my affiliation with the organization, which is not inherently objectionable.” He contended that his moral character precluded him from aligning with an unethical organization.
Hailing from Sonepur, Odisha, Dash was born in 1962 and pursued his education in Ullunda, Dhenkanal, and Bhubaneswar, culminating in a law degree from Cuttack in 1985. He commenced his legal practice in 1986 and served as an additional standing counsel for the state government from 1992 to 1994, as per the Calcutta HC’s website.
Entering the Orissa Superior Judicial Service (Senior Branch) in February 1999, Dash rose through the ranks, eventually being appointed as an additional judge of the Orissa HC in October 2009. His tenure as a judge at the Calcutta HC commenced on June 20, 2022, following a transfer.