Justice Rabindranath Samanta of Calcutta High Court on his farewell while praising the Calcutta bar’s erudite lawyers, said that the independence of the judiciary depends upon an independent fair bar.
“Independence and fairness of the judiciary will be dependent upon an independent, fair, bar. I hope and believe that the flag of independence and justice will flutter with the assistance of a good bar that is rendering assistance to the benches”.
“Independence and fairness of the judiciary will be dependent upon an independent, fair, bar. I hope and believe that the flag of independence and justice will flutter with the assistance of a good bar that is rendering assistance to the benches”.
He also said that he was fortunate to have served the people of the country, whom he likened to living gods.
He further said that he got privileged to serve the people of our country “If anybody asked me what is your feeling and experience of being associated with the judiciary for the last 35 years, must I say that I am proud that I belong to the judiciary? Must I say that by God’s grace, I got privilege to serve the people of my country? … As a member of the judiciary, both the district judiciary and the higher judiciary, indeed I am fortunate that I could serve the people as the living gods”.
“The Supreme Court observed, ‘God smiles in the smile of the poor”.
In one case, Justice Samanta recounted that how he chanced upon an old man and a boy who used to remain in court.
“The district judge of Alipore would have to work hard, upto 6 PM or 6.30 PM. One day, I found that an old man with a small boy were waiting at about 6 PM.
He asked them, ‘Why are you waiting for that empty court?’
The old man replied ‘I am waiting since morning, because I have one case. This boy has none, he has lost his parents. I have come here for the appointment of a guardian. I am waiting since morning’
Justice asked, ‘Please call your lawyer.’
Lawyer came, I took evidence, disposed of the matter and appointed guardian. It gave me immense satisfaction”.
Justice remarked that “I can happily say that while delivering judgments, after arguing cases, we always felt that my Lord’s justice was always poetic justice because it is justice which is rendered by a poet’.
