Daijiworld Media Network
New Delhi, Dec 16: The disclosure of excerpts from the statement given by the intern in the sexual assault case against Judge Ashok Kumar Ganguly seems to have added fuel to fire as it has more people demanding that the Judge step down from his post as Chairman of West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC). Justice Ganguly questioned the legality of revealing a confidential document such as an affidavit, while declining to resign from his post at the WBHRC.
Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Indira Jaisingh made some of the aspects of the affidavit available for perusal of the populace with the approval of the intern as well as making sure that she was informed of every step being taken. She added that if the former Supreme Court adamantly held on to his post, then it would become inevitable for the President of India to take appropriate action and expel him. The portion of the affidavit available for viewing indicates towards the unwelcome attentions of the Judge that the intern repeatedly attempted to thwart and in the end unable to bear it any further proceeded to exit the premises of the hotel where the incident took place. In her statement the intern had revealed that the Judge had sexually harassed her after luring her to his accommodation at the Le Meridein hotel in Delhi under the false pretext of work. Justice Ganguly denied all allegations and also lamented that everyone seemed to be ignoring anything he had to say on the matter.
Beginning with BJP leader voicing her demand for the resignation of Judge Ganguly from the WBHRC, the protests seem to have escalated since as more people are asking the former Supreme Court Judge to quit. Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamta Banerjee is known to have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh twice requesting the discharge of Justice AK Ganguly, while ASG indira Jaising wrote to the PM once with the same request.
Law and Justice Minister Kapil Sibal tweeted that he was content to wait and watch as to how the country's highest judiciary decided to deal with the situation. There were even masses of protestors gathered outside the house of Judge Gangule demanding he leave his post or be evicted from it. An unruffled Justice Ganguly made it very clear that he had no intention of leaving his position at the WBHRC.