Odisha Chief Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel unveiled a portrait of Justice Naba Kumar Das in the High Court Bar Association Hall here on Friday. He recalled the varied contributions of the late Justice Das to the legal, cultural, literary and other fields.
The younger generation ought to emulate and be inspired by the exemplary activities of Justice Das.The legacy of Justice Das is continuing in the Bar through his son Senior Advocate Jayant Das, former Advocate General and president of the Bar Association, and his grandson Aditya, the Chief Justice added.Bar Association president SP Mishra, Senior Advocate BK Mahanti and others recalled that Justice Das was born on the auspicious Akshay Tritiya day.
Having completed his graduation and degree in law from the Ravenshaw College, Naba Kumar joined the Bar about three years before India became independent. His wife Prabhamayee, granddaughter of Utkalmani Gopabandhu, was a prominent social worker and the first lady from Odisha to be on the Handicraft and Handloom Board, Government of India; first from Odisha to be on the Central Social Welfare Board and first lady from Odisha to be on the Board of Directors of the Indian Overseas Bank.
With the onset of Independence, Justice Das was called upon to help the judiciary and he worked as Munsif of Puri. With the creation of High Court of Orissa, he resigned from the post to resume his practice.Justice Naba Kumar Das was also a part-time lecturer in MS law College for about ten years. He was the Standing Counsel and Government Advocate for almost 14 years. He was also the Senior Standing Counsel for the Central Government.
He was the secretary for eight years and president for five years of premier literary organisation Utkal Sahitya Samaj. He was the secretary of the Utkal Sangeeta Samaj for a long period.He was also the president and managing trustee of Kala Vikash Kendra, Cuttack. He was a writer, dramatist, actor and director of dramas.He was the first person in Odisha to dramatise Odia novels like Ha-Anna. He composed Odia songs in different Ragas, which the All India Radio broadcast. He successfully led the movement to get Odishi recognised as a Classical Dance.
Justice Das was elevated to the Bench of the High Court in 1975 and retired in 1982. He delivered pioneering judgments formulating many legal principles even before the Supreme Court propounded the same.He always encouraged young lawyers to grow and achieve great heights in their careers. Many of his leading judgments on taxation, arbitration, civil and criminal matters were sustained in the Supreme Court.
He also was Chief Editor of Cuttack Weekly Reports and Orissa Judicial Decision and (founder) Chief Editor of Orissa law Reviews and Orissa Criminal Reports.His compilation of Orissa local laws, now in its third edition, was a monumental work and is of great assistance in the Orissa High Court and the Supreme Court. Post retirement, Justice Das headed the Burla Commission of Enquiry and gave the finding that nine students had been killed before being thrown into the Mahanadi by local businessmen. His recommendations for remedial and ameliorative measures were accepted by the Government.
He also headed the Mandal Commission during the period of turmoil and his report was fully accepted by the Government. He had compiled more than 50 law books. His compilation of the Orissa High Court Yearly Digest since 1984 till date demonstrated his accurate and meticulous work in the field of law, Justice Das followed the writing of Robert Frost which adorned his study table: “The woods are lovely dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep...”