23 May 2024: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has expressed serious concerns over the recent revelation by Justice Chitta Ranjan Dash, who retired from the Calcutta High Court on May 20, 2024, about his affiliation with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Justice Dash, who retired on Monday, disclosed his RSS membership during his farewell event, prompting SDPI to issue a statement condemning such affiliations as detrimental to the integrity of the Indian judiciary.
Adv. Sharfuddin Ahmed, vice president of SDPI, highlighted that Justice Dash’s open declaration of his RSS ties exposes the presence of what he termed “RSS sleeper cells” within the judiciary. This, he argues, undermines the impartiality essential to judicial offices.
In his valedictory speech, Justice Dash lauded the RSS, crediting the organization for instilling in him values of bravery, fairness, and patriotism. “I owe a lot to an organization. I have been there from my childhood to adulthood. From this organization I have learned to be brave, fair, and have an equal attitude towards all. And above all, I have learned to work with a sense of patriotism and commitment, wherever I work,” he said.
The SDPI’s critique extends to the broader trend of judicial officers’ affiliations with political entities. Citing the recent example of Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, another former Calcutta High Court judge who resigned to join the BJP and contest in the ongoing general election, Ahmed suggested that such moves are indicative of a larger strategy to alter the democratic fabric of the country.
Justice Dash has previously faced criticism for his comments in a rape case involving a minor, where he advised adolescent girls to restrain their sexual urges. The Supreme Court of India labeled his remarks as “highly objectionable and completely unwarranted.”
Despite Justice Dash’s claims of impartiality in his judicial duties, SDPI remains skeptical. Ahmed stated that Dash’s pride in his RSS affiliation raises doubts about his ability to remain unbiased.
The SDPI’s statement underscores the risks posed by the infiltration of judicial offices by individuals with strong ties to ideologically driven organizations. “Close affiliation of judicial officers with political parties, especially with organizations that propagate hatred and division in society, has dire consequences that undermine the impartiality and credibility of the judicial system,” Ahmed asserted.
He further remarked on the growing trend of public figures openly embracing their RSS links, suggesting that the political climate under Modi’s governance over the past decade has emboldened such declarations.
SDPI’s condemnation highlights the ongoing debate about the influence of political and ideological affiliations on the independence and integrity of the judiciary in India.
