Sibal, Jaitley question SC's inquiry into Justice Ganguly

Both, Congress and BJP suggest Court has been soft on one of their own, even as parties want tainted judge to quit

The Supreme Court’s inquiry into the alleged sexual harassment by former judge A K Ganguly was today criticised by both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as they suggested that the Court had been soft on one of its own.

Law Minister Kapil Sibal said he was “little disappointed” as the Supreme Court was to take the case of sexual harassment forward. Sibal said in his view, the court had “brushed it [the sexual harassment case] under the carpet.”

Ganguly, who as a former judge of the Supreme Court had famously cancelled 2G spectrum licenses, was on Thursday found prima facie guilty of “unwelcome behaviour” with a young lawyer who interned with him in December 2012 by a committee of judges set up by the Supreme Court. The court, however, had added that “no further follow up action is required by this court”.

Arun Jaitley, leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha, questioned why the Supreme Court had not applied its own “standards” to one of its former judge. Jaitley said the Court had followed an “escapist route” by stopping short of not taking any action against the former Supreme Court judge.

“The standard that the Supreme Court follows for every holder of high office, must apply even more sternly to a sitting or former judge of the court,” Jaitley said. He demanded that Ganguly should step down as the Chairman of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission and must face investigation as an ordinary citizen.

The demand for Ganguly’s resignation was also voiced by Congress leader Ambika Soni. “We expect people to show a certain high moral ground, from those who occupy or who have occupied high offices. I do feel that if a person occupies such a high office, even if he feels he did not do the wrong thing, steps down, he increases his moral stature than reducing it," Soni said. The Mahila Congress too demanded Jutice Ganguly’s removal.

“Watchdogs of the law cannot be above the law,” Mahila Congress President Shobha Ozha. She said they had been with the law intern since the first day and wanted him to step down.

Ganguly refused to comment on the growing demand for his resignation “Don't disturb me...Don't disturb me. I have tolerated enough,” said Ganguly, who was appeared disturbed. On Thursday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had written to President Pranab Mukherjee asking him to take “appropriate action” urgently against the “grave misconduct” of the former Supreme Court Judge.