Acting Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Bhaskar Bhattacharya vacated his chair in the middle of a session on Friday and refused to occupy it after being informed that the words “Satyameva Jayate” was not inscribed below the Ashoka Pillar symbol.

The incident took place during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the improper use of the National Emblem across the state, when advocate Tapash Bhanja pointed out that even the chair being occupied by the acting Chief Justice did not have the words Satyameva Jayate inscribed under the National Emblem.

Bhattacharya then got up from his chair and left the courtroom. He returned only when his chair was changed. Interestingly, officials of the High Court could not find a replacement that met the requirements and ended up getting a chair used by other judges of the High Court for the acting Chief Justice.

Bhattacharya also directed the Registrar General of the Calcutta High Court, Tarun Kumar Gupta, to take necessary steps against the improper use of the National Emblem in the court premises. With the High Court passing necessary orders to stop the improper use of the National Emblem, the same should be maintained by the court as well, he said.

Advocates, initially taken aback by the incident, later lauded the acting Chief Justice’s decision. At the Calcutta High Court, only the Chief Justice’s chair bears the National Emblem.

According to the State Emblem of India (Prohibition of Improper Use) Act 2005, Satyameva Jayate must be written under the National Emblem.

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