The Calcutta branch of the Income Tax Bar Association (ITBA) held its centennial seminar at the Taj Bengal over two days on Saturday and Sunday. The opening day of the event included the honouring of distinguished guests, while multiple talk sessions took place on the second day.
The event saw the presence of several prominent figures from the legal fraternity, including Supreme Court of India Justice B.V. Nagarathna and former Attorney General of India Mukul Rohatgi.
The ITBA Calcutta, established in April 1924, is India's oldest income tax bar. Some of the seniormost lawyers of Calcutta, specialising in direct taxes—Shyamlal Sarkar, Bhut Nath Kar, Sashi Bhowmic, Amritlal Majumdar, and Jyan Ranjan Roy—came together to form the association with the aim of safeguarding the interests of fellow legal practitioners.
On the opening day, former Supreme Court judge Justice (retired) Ruma Pal was felicitated by Justice Nagarathna, who is anticipated to become the first woman Chief Justice of India in 2027 based on seniority.
Justice (retired) Pal, who served on the Supreme Court of India for over six years from 2000 to 2006, holds the distinction of being the longest-serving female judge in the apex court's history. Throughout her remarkable career, she delivered numerous critical judgments. Her husband, Samaraditya Pal, was also a highly respected advocate at the Calcutta High Court.
Justice Nagarathna told THE WEEK, “I am extremely honoured to have got the opportunity to felicitate Justice (retired) Ruma Pal. She has contributed immensely to the jurisprudence of the Supreme Court of India.”
Multiple sessions were conducted throughout the second day of ITBA Calcutta’s centennial seminar. Justice Nagarathna addressed the seminar in a session, titled ‘Through the Looking Glass’. Rohtagi also addressed the seminar on Sunday. He spoke on the subject ‘Tribunal Deliberations on Urgent Need for Settlement based Tax Regime’.
Former Supreme Court of India judge Justice (retired) S. Ravindra Bhatt, and Justice (retired) C.V. Bhadang, former Bombay High Court judge and the president of Income Tax Appellate Tribunal, were among the many dignitaries who attended the ITBA Calcutta’s centennial seminar.