Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Ravindra V Ghuge, on Friday, unveiled the portrait of former Union Law Minister and Senior Advocate Ashoke Kumar Sen at the Calcutta High Court Bar Library Club. The event was presided over by Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, along with the President and Secretary of the Bar Library Club.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chief Justice Ghuge acknowledged Sen’s stature as a doyen of the bar, recalling the tribute paid by legal luminary Nani A Palkhiwala, who had remarked that it would take ten lifetimes to comprehend the depth of Sen’s knowledge. The Chief Justice noted that the Calcutta High Court, established in 1862, has stood witness to generations of legal excellence, and the Bar Library Club, with its two-century legacy, continues to nurture such traditions.
Justice Ghuge expressed his personal honour in unveiling the portrait, stating that the likenesses of legal stalwarts displayed in the Club serve as silent observers, inspiring current practitioners to uphold the highest standards of professional conduct and judicial integrity. He extended his salutations to Sen’s soul and congratulated the family on the tribute.
Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty, in his remarks, described Sen as a legend of the bar who expanded the horizons of the Calcutta Bar nationally. He highlighted Sen’s rapid rise within five years of commencing practice, establishing himself as a leading advocate. Justice Chakraborty pointed to Sen’s familial legacy in public service, noting that his elder brother, Sukumar Sen, served as independent India’s first Chief Election Commissioner.
Justice Chakraborty further elaborated on Sen’s judicial engagements, stating that he represented both governmental entities and ordinary citizens with equal dedication, often appearing for those unable to afford senior counsel. He specifically referenced Sen’s role in representing Prime Minister Indira Gandhi during the 1975 legal proceedings, underscoring the advocate’s prominence in national legal affairs.
Senior Advocate Jayanta Mitra shared personal recollections of appearing before Sen in various matters and recounted anecdotes attributed to the late Somnath Chatterjee. Mitra highlighted Sen’s legislative contributions, citing his involvement in drafting pivotal statutes such as the Dowry Prohibition Act, the Advocates Act, and the Anti-Defection Law. Mitra affirmed that Sen’s legacy warranted not only a portrait in the Bar Library Club but also a bust within the court corridors.
Sanjiv Sen, grandnephew of Ashoke Kumar Sen and an advocate at the Supreme Court of India, expressed the family’s pride in seeing the portrait permanently installed at the Calcutta High Court Bar Library Club. He described the institution as integral to Sen’s formative years and his evolution into a national legal figure. Sen noted that the habit of reading remained a defining trait of his granduncle throughout his life.
The unveiling ceremony concluded with tributes from members of the bar, reinforcing the collective recognition of Ashoke Kumar Sen’s enduring influence on Indian jurisprudence and legal ethics.