Addressing a press conference, he said he would join the BJP on March 7. “I am joining the BJP as it is a national party, which is fighting against the corruption of the TMC in Bengal,” he announced.
Several lawyers and litigants requested Justice Gangopadhyay to reconsider his resignation, expressing their gratitude for his judicial service. Mitali Das, a litigant from Bolpur in Birbhum district, traveled nearly 180 km to Kolkata to plead with folded hands, tears streaming down her cheeks. Das, a mother in need, recounted receiving crucial medical aid for her daughter through Justice Gangopadhyay’s court orders.
Witnesses described emotional scenes in the courtroom, with another woman likening Justice Gangopadhyay’s courtroom to a sacred temple. Amidst heartfelt appeals, some lawyers urged him to extend his tenure until his scheduled retirement later this year.
On his final day presiding, Justice Gangopadhyay resolved over 60 pending matters and referred one case to the chief justice of the high court. As he bid farewell, he acknowledged the gathered lawyers and attendees with a wave.
While Justice Gangopadhyay’s tenure has been marked by significant rulings, particularly on education-related issues in West Bengal, his future plans post-resignation remain undisclosed. Having served for 24 years as a practicing lawyer at the high court, Justice Gangopadhyay assumed office as an additional judge on May 2, 2018. He attained permanent judge status on July 30, 2020, as documented by the high court’s official records.
