By Jayant Kumar Das, Puri, August 8, 2016 : A businessman can become a judge in High Court or Supreme Court but for the first time in judicial history of the country, one sitting High Court Judge has become a successful businessman.

Justice Indrajit Mahanty of Odisha High Court runs a hotel called The Triple ‘C’ in Buxibazar, in front of Pantha Niwas, Cuttack. He also has availed a loan from State Bank of India (SBI) to the tune of Rs 2.5 crore to run the Hotel in total contravention to the charter “Restatement of Values of Judicial Life” adopted by the Supreme Court on 07th May 1997 by the Supreme Court to serve as a guide to be observed by Judges.

“A Judge shall not engage directly or indirectly in trade or business, either by himself or in association with any other person. (Publication of a legal treatise or any activity in the nature of a hobby shall not be construed as a trade or business),”the charter categorically states.

It also says, “A Judge should not ask for, accept contributions or otherwise actively associate himself with the raising of any fund for any purpose.”

Documents available with us clearly suggest that Justice Mahanty openly violated the accepted norms, guidelines and conventions observed by Judges. This unlawful act of one judge has tarnished the image of judiciary.

Justice Mahanty, S/O of Late Barrister Ranjit Mahanty was appointed as a judge on 31st March 2006 and prior to his appointment he was a practicing advocate in Orissa High Court since 1984. Interestingly, he became businessman after his appointment as a judge in High Court going by the details of his successful business.

Justice Indrajit Mahanty has a sprawling 93632 square feet homestead land in Oriyabazar, Cuttack. He got the Record of Rights (ROR) of the land on August 18, 2006 after being appointed as a judge in Orissa High Court). Then, he applied to Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) to construct a Shop-cum-Residence over the land.

Cuttack Development Authority in its Letter No. 15639/CDA & 15640/CDA, dated 24.07.2007 approved the three storied Commercial-cum-Residential building plan and upper floor Commercial Building on the plot.

On January 15, 2009 Justice Mahanty applied State Bank of India SMECCC, Cuttack requesting for sanction of Working Capital Limit under Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SME-1) and this type of loan is provided by the banks to the businessman.

SBI sanctioned the Term Loan (Term Loan-I with a Limit Rs 1.6 crore and second term loan with a Limit Rs 90 lakh in its Letter No. Sanction/AGM/08-09/44 dated 16.02.2009. As per the Loan Account Statement of Jusitce Mohanty’s account [No -30279939787 & 30683363327} from April 1, 2013 to September 9, 2015, Justice Mahanty is repaying the installment to SBI every month.

The documentary evidence indicates that Justice Indrajit Mahanty has become a Successful Businessman only after his appointment as a judge in Orissa High Court.