Under immense pressure to quit as the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) Chairman following allegations of sexually harassing a law intern, Justice AK Ganguly is reported to have finally relented and resigned as the panel’s chief on Monday. There was no official confirmation about his resignation though following his 40-minute meeting with West Bengal Governor MK Narayanan.
While Ganguly left without speaking to the media, the Governor refused to comment as well. Sources, however, said Justice Ganguly had indeed resigned. “Things would be made public if the Government decides to do so,” they added. Raj Bhavan sources said that a press release might be issued if instructed, but declined to divulge what took place during Justice Ganguly’s meeting with the Governor.
Reports about Ganguly having resigned gained strength considering the timing of his meeting Narayanan and the fact that procedural formalities require a State Human Rights’ Panel chief to tender his resignation to the Governor. As far as any further action against him is concerned, it will depend on whether the former law intern chooses to lodge a formal complaint with the police.
His move came after the Supreme Court, earlier in the day, refused to entertain a PIl seeking its direction to stay all proceedings against him. A bench of Chief Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Ranjan Gogoi dismissed the PIl, saying that it cannot interfere in the issue at this stage and law will take its course in the matter. Justice Ganguly had distanced himself from the PIl.
“We have gone through every word of your averments and prayers. We are not inclined to go into it. It’s too early to say anything about it,” the Bench said, adding “let the law take its own course”. The court was hearing a PIl, filed by a woman doctor and Delhi resident M Padma Narayan Singh, requesting for restraining the Centre from removing Justice Ganguly.
Justice Ganguly had till Monday morning said he was yet to take a decision on resigning as chairman of WBHRC and also declined to comment on his telephonic conversation with former attorney general Soli Sorabjee. Justice Ganguly had been under immense pressure to resign after he was indicted by the three-judge committee appointed by the Supreme Court for sexually “unwelcome” behaviour towards a law intern in December 2012.
Despite demands for his resignation, including by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who had written to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking his removal, Justice Ganguly had stood his ground claiming he did no wrong and alleged conspiracy against him. Pressure had also been mounting on him to quit after the Central Government began the procedure of his removal through a Presidential reference
The former Supreme Court Judge, who looked pretty disturbed and distressed throughout Monday, however, attended his office and gave directions as usual before meeting the Governor in the evening.