Kolkata: Retired Justice Ganguly, accused of sexually harassing a former law intern, will be taken off the post of chairman of West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) before the year end.
The Union Cabinet, after discussions with the federal law ministry, has come to the conclusion that there is sufficient material [regarding the sexual harassment incident] for making a Presidential Reference for removal of Ganguly.
“We have also received the opinion of Attorney-General G. E. Vahanvati who informed that Justice Ganguly can be removed from his position of chairman of WBHRC considering that there is proof of his guilt,” said a senior bureaucrat of the law ministry.
“The Union Cabinet will take a decision very soon. It seems that the decks are cleared for his removal since all evidence suggest that he is guilty of sexually harassing the girl,” he added.
The faculty members of National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata, have decided to disassociate themselves from Ganguly, who is an honorary professor at the institution.
“Considering the nature of allegations and noting that the girl was a student, and the former judge was an honorary professor of NUJS at the time of incident, we feel that the latter’s continued association with our institution undermines the ideals of NUJS, an institution that has always strived to teach and foster justice, including gender justice,” said Ruchira Goswami, NUJS spokesperson and faculty.
Ruchira, along with 11 other faculty members, had written to the Vice Chancellor demanding Ganguly’s removal.
The final decision to remove Ganguly from NJUS position will be taken by the institution’s executive council.
The council plans to meet during the first week of January.
Ganguly has refused to comment on the developments.
“I have not heard about any such thing as of now. First let me hear then only I will comment,” he said.
“I have not decided anything on the future course of action. I won’t say anything now,” Ganguly told.
