In a curious turn of event West Bengal Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice Ganguly received a threat letter from a law clerk in which she has asked him to mend his ways or face a molestation charge, the State rights Panel sources said, adding a probe order has been issued.
The hand-written letter in Bengali — dated September 18, 2013 — from a law clerk allegedly working at Burdwan district court calls Justice Ganguly a beiman (ungrateful) and “dishonest” person who had instead of showing appreciation for the Bengal Government had passed adverse orders against it despite the fact that it was the State Government which had brought him to this post.
The woman has threatened to bring molestation charges against the retired Judge if he fails to mend his ways, WBHRC sources quoting the letter said adding a probe order has been issued directing the West Bengal law Clerk Council to inquire into the matter a submit a report within three weeks.
Justice Ganguly had in the past one year passed a number of orders — including the cartoon gate case, Shiladitya Chowdhury case — against the Government bringing the two sides at loggerheads.
An “insignificant letter on normal circumstances” the letter assumes importance against the backdrop of a charge brought against WBHRC Chairman by a law intern who claimed that the Judge had conducted himself in a sexually “unwelcome” manner in a star hotel in Delhi a year ago when she had gone to assist him in his work.
Subsequently demands were raised from all quarters for his resignation. This after the Supreme Court found a prima facie case in her complaint.
“The phone number provided in the law clerk’s letter is not responding and one wonders the name mentioned in it is genuine one, still probe orders have been issued” said an official.
Meanwhile a section of lawyers in Calcutta High Court on Wednesday came out in open support for the accused Judge “asking either for a proper probe into the matter or stop witch-hunting him.”
The lawyers led by senior counsel Bikash Bhattacharya, Arunabha Ghosh, Rabiranjan Chattopadhyay, Jayantanarayan Chatterjee took out a short procession during the lunch break.
“Anyone who had slightest knowledge of the criminal justice system will understand what merit this case has where not an FIR has been filed” Bikash Bhattacharya , former Kolkata Mayor said adding “this is a clear case of witch hunt.”
Insisting that the case had definite political underpinnings the senior lawyer said “vested interests who had been at the receiving end of the WBHRC order have been demanding his resignation,” adding “we don’t back any guilty person but we also don’t want witch hunting. We want a proper probe in which if Justice Ganguly is found guilty let him face the punishment.”
Everyone was busy in his character assassination but they were not considering the fact that “the woman has not yet filed an FIR” Bhattacharya said. “The Supreme Court committee which made the inquiry had no legal authority to do so. Then what is being targeted for!” lawyers wondered.