AK Ganguly rules out resignation

Former Supreme Court judge AK Ganguly has said he will not resign from the post of Chairman of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission.

“I have explained everything to the Supreme Court Committee. I will not resign and step down from the post of WBHRC,” Justice Ganguly said.

Justice Ganguly has now raised question over the motive of leaking the confidential affidavit to the media.

“I do not know the agenda and motive to leak confidential affidavit to media,” he said.

Meanwhile a statement was released earlier on Monday by the woman lawyer in which she accused justice Ganguly for sexually harassing her.

“The judge informed me that it may not be possible to have a separate room arranged for me, and asked me if I would stay in the same room with him,” she said.

“During the dinner, the judge put his hand on my back and thanked me for agreeing to help him. I moved away, clearly indicating to the judge that this physical contact was unwelcome and not proper behaviour on his part. However, the judge did not remove his hand from my back, and then moved forward to embrace me. At this point, the judge approached me and, standing next to me, he put his hand on my head, and said, ‘You are very beautiful’. I immediately rose from my seat, but before I had a chance to respond to the statement, he caught hold of my arm, saying, ‘You know that I’m attracted to you, don’t you? You must be thinking, what, this old man is getting drunk and saying such things. But I really like you, I love you’. When I tried to move away, he kissed my arm and repeated that he loved me,” she added.

Intensifying the pressure political parties continued to demand Justice Ganguly’s resignation on Monday.

“It is all over. It is shameful. There is no room for him to run now,” TMC MP Derek O’Brien said.

“Case should be registered against him, if action is initiated against politicians than why not judges,” Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Aggarwal said.

Soon after the intern’s statement was released, Union Law Minister Kapil Sibal said that the government may take action against justice Ganguly if he does not resign from the post of the Chairman of the WBHRC.

“There is a procedure where government can step in on proved misbehaviour. If he does not resign, we will take a position on it,” Kapil Sibal said.

“Hopeful SC will take same actions against its judge like it takes for an ordinary citizen for security of women,” Sibal tweeted.

Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising pressed for Ganguly’s resignation. She also said that India needs strong laws against judges.

Jaising wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and demanded action against AK Ganguly.

“A person against whom there is an allegation of sexual harassment cannot be allowed to occupy the position of Chairman of a Human Rights Commission without his name being honorably cleared,” Jaising said.

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