A defiant West Bengal Human Rights Commission chairman (retd) Justice Ashok Ganguly accused of “unwelcome” sexual conduct with a law intern a year ago put his foot down and chose to ignore the intense pressure from the political parties and activists groups demanding his resignation as the rights panel chief.
“Amake maap korun. Aami kichu bolte parbona. Amay ke bissas korbey (I am sorry. I won’t be able to speak. What can I sayIJ Who will believe me!)” a visibly upset former Supreme Court Judge told the media before slipping into his car for his WBHRC office. later he reportedly told a news agency that he was not in a mood to oblige his detractors.
“I have given a detailed explanation on the incident to the Supreme Court Committee. I will not resign from WBHRC” the Judge reiterated wondering as to how the affidavit made before the apex court, by the petitioner intern who had alleged sexual harassment against the retired Judge, was leaked out in public.
His statement came close on the heels of an article quoting Indira Jaising, Additional Solicitor General, in a daily referring to the contents of the affidavit of the reportedly harassed woman.
The ASG, however, defended her act saying the report was confidential only till the committee was in office adding she had no alternative but to come out with the revelations in the wake of legal luminaries like a former Chief Justice of India and former Speaker taking positions in Ganguly’s favour. “It was necessary to bring the victim’s statement in public,” she maintained.
Former Speaker Somnath Chatterjee earlier said, “It is easy to malign somebody. let it be proved and let him be punished. I don’t mind. I am not holding his brief,” adding “let things proceed according to law. There is something called law in this country.”
With political parties stepping on the heat on Justice Ganguly, leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said the retired Judge should resign as “these are not untested allegations.”
Jaitley wrote in the Facebook that “there is reason to believe on the basis of the report of the three judges that an offence could have been committed. Since this involves a former Judge of the Supreme Court who is presently the chairperson of the WBHRC ... “Justice Ganguly, like Caesar’s wife, must be above suspicion.”
Comparing similar incidents involving the politicians he said, “Firstly if it were a case of prominent politician rather than a former judge would the judicial institutions have completely washed their hands of or would they have monitored the investigationsIJ” adding “if he were to relinquish his office he would only be protecting the dignity of the office that he occupies.”
Sounding a warning bell for Justice Ganguly, Union law Minister Kapil Sibal also urged the WBHRC chief to quit his post on his own as “there is a procedure where the Government can step in on proved misbehaviour. If he does not resign then we will take a position on it.”
SP leader Naresh Aggarwal moved a step forward asking for an FIR to be filed against the accused while Trinamool Congress MP Derek O’Brien said “its all over. It is shameful. There is no room for him to run now.”
Meanwhile a set of Kolkata lawyers under the banner of All India legal Aid Forum on Monday staged a four-hour dharna before the WBHRC office demanding Justice Ganguly’s resignation.
The Forum which reportedly enjoys closeness with the State Government also burnt the retired Judge’s effigy and threatened to follow him and organise protests wherever he went in the State.