Should Justice Ganguly be sacked? President seeks HM’s advice

mangaloretoday.com

New Delhi, Dec 17:  Former Supreme Court judge AK Ganguly, accused of sexually harassing a law intern, is in deeper trouble with President Pranab Mukherjee referring a complaint against him by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the Centre for advice.

The Chief Minister had written to the President twice asking for "urgent appropriate action" against the former judge, currently the chairman of the West Bengal Human rights Commission.
 
The home ministry is seeking legal opinion on the possible action against Justice Ganguly, who has been found guilty of "unwelcome conduct of sexual nature" by a panel of Supreme Court judges.

 

Sources in the ministry feel there has to be a legal corroboration, through a police investigation, before any action can be taken.

The 66-year-old former judge stubbornly held his ground. Asked by reporters whether he would resign, he shot back, "That is none of your business."

On Tuesday, the Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress and the Left were in rare agreement that Justice Ganguly must be sacked, and both parties raised it forcefully in Parliament.

Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising has also written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking Justice Ganguly’s removal.

Ms Jaising revealed excerpts from the law intern’s signed statement before the Supreme Court panel in the Indian Express on Monday, on a day the country marked a year since the December 16 Delhi gang-rape that shocked the nation and spurred sweeping changes in laws on sexual crimes.

The woman has in her affidavit, given a detailed account of what she alleges happened when she met Mr Ganguly for work at a Delhi hotel room on December, 24, 2012, on his request. She stated that the retired judge kissed her arm, repeatedly told her he loved her and asked her to share his hotel room. (I love you, Justice Ganguly said: read intern’s affidavit)

Last month, the intern had blogged about the incident for a website that covers legal news. The Supreme Court then appointed three judges to investigate her charges, but said no action could be taken against the former judge as he was retired when the incident took place.