On Monday, May 20, Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash, a retiring judge of the Calcutta High Court, publicly expressed his gratitude towards the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for profoundly influencing his sense of patriotism and personal development.
In his farewell speech, Justice Dash shared, “Today, I must unfold my true self. I owe a lot to one organisation. I am there from my childhood till I attained my youth. I have learned to be courageous, upright, have equal view for others, and above all, the sense of patriotism and commitment to the work wherever you work.”
Justice Dash revealed that he had distanced himself from the RSS upon his judicial appointment but was pleased to reconnect with the organisation now that his judicial career had concluded.
He admitted, “I must admit here that I was and I am a member of the RSS…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.”
He emphasised his impartiality, stating, “I have treated everybody at par, be it a Communist person, be it a BJP or Congress or even TMC person. I do not have any bias against anybody. I do not have any bias against any political personality. All were equal before me.”
Justice Dash concluded with a reflection on his judicial philosophy, “I tried to dispense justice on two principles: one is empathy and second is law can be bent to do justice, but justice cannot be bent to suit the law.”
Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash’s legal career began in 1986 when he started practicing as an advocate. In 1999, he joined the Odisha judicial service, initially serving as an Additional District & Sessions Judge. His academic background includes a law degree from Madhu Sudan Law College, Cuttack, obtained in 1985, and an LL.M. from Utkal University as a non-collegiate candidate.
Enrolled as an advocate in 1986, he was appointed to the Orissa Superior Judicial Service (Senior Branch) as a direct recruit on February 16, 1999. His career encompassed various roles, including Additional District & Sessions Judge in Sambalpur and Deogarh, Special Judge (Vigilance) in Sambalpur, District & Sessions Judge in Keonjhar and Berhampur, Chairman of the Orissa Sales Tax Tribunal in Cuttack, and Registrar (Administration) of the Orissa High Court in Cuttack.
Elevated to the position of Additional Judge of the Orissa High Court on October 7, 2009, Justice Dash was later transferred and appointed as a judge of the Calcutta High Court on June 20, 2022.
Justice Dash also faced controversy as part of a bench that issued a judgment containing guidelines for adolescent girls to ‘control their sexual urges.’ This judgment was subsequently reviewed by the Supreme Court, which expressed strong objections to the remarks.
