Justice AK Ganguly "undecided" on resignation as pressure mounts

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Under scanner for allegedly sexually harassing a law intern, the pressure is rising on retired Supreme Court Justice AK Ganguly to quit as the chief of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC). Former SC judge Ashok Kumar Ganguly, accused of sexual harassment by a young woman law intern, on Tuesday said he was "undecided" on whether to resign from the chairmanship of WBHRC. "I have not decided. I am undecided," Ganguly told a news agency in Kolkata. "Time has not come to think about it," he said when asked about his future course of action in view of demands for his resignation as the WBHRC chairman from certain quarters, while he has received support from some other sections. Asked if Ganguly should step down from the post of chairman of WBHRC, former Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir recently said, "One automatically does not resign on the basis of allegations. I know he had said that he was shocked and shattered. I never ever would believe that this is possible." After the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress, the main opposition party, BJP, is now gunning for Justice Ganguly`s head. Senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj has called for Ganguly`s immediate ouster as the chief of the West Bengal HRC. Sushma Swaraj had tweeted, "I strongly feel that Justice AK Ganguly should resign as Chairman of WB Human Rights Commission." A silent protest was also held outside the Commission headquarters in Kolkata yesterday demanding the resignation of Justice Ganguly. However, Justice Ganguly had denied any wrong doing and said that he was shocked and shattered by the allegation made against him by the law intern. In his defence, Justice Ganguly said, "I was a victim of circumstances. I am shattered and shocked. I deny all the charges." Ganguly further said that the intern was like a child to him. "She came to my house on a number of occasions. The intern is like a child to me. The intern has worked with me, but she has never raised the issue with me." He had said, "When I was in Delhi, she was in Delhi. I did not force her to come to me, she had dinner with me and she had the liberty to leave. She should have left if she felt uncomfortable. I am a victim of circumstances." Former Attorney General of India Soli Sorabjee has defended the retired apex court judge by saying his resignation would set a bad precedent. (With Agency inputs)