Union Law and Justice Minister Kapil Sibal on Monday said Justice A.K. Ganguly, who has been accused of sexual harassment by a law intern, should resign voluntarily from the chairmanship of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission, and added that he would not like to see the ignominy of a removal procedure being inflicted on the latter.
"I have no doubt about this. I think in the light of the latest revelations of the Solicitor General, I think it is time for him to voluntarily submit his resignation. This is an exceptionally serious matter," Sibal said in response to a question regarding Justice A.K. Ganguly resigning voluntarily.
"I don't think both he and the institution should suffer the ignominy of a removal procedure," he added.
"Under the Protection of Human Rights Act, there is a procedure to remove the chairman of an institution for proved misbehavior. But, I don't think the judiciary, or he himself, would like that process to be followed. So, I think, in the larger public interest, he should voluntarily resign,"
On the need for the government to step-in, in case he refuses to resign, Sibal said, "If Justice Ganguly does not resigns, then that situation will arise. We will then take a position on it. But certainly, it must be taken to its logical conclusion. We will also wait, as there is already a petition pending by the Solicitor General in the Supreme Court. We will wait to see the order of the SC, because it will enable us to unravel what happened. The SC, which always protects the dignity of women, will hopefully rise to the occasion."
Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Uma Bharti said the verdict of cases against A.K. Ganguly and Tarun Tejpal will ensure that the dignity of women is not harmed while working in higher places.
"It is not good. Proper investigation should be taken in the matter. See whatever verdict is out in Tarun Tejpal and A.K. Ganguly's cases, will ensure that women working in higher places, can work with dignity," said Bharti.
"I will repeat my statement that regular working women who travel in buses and trains, still feel insecure and are in danger just like Nirbhaya," she added.
On Sunday, Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought the removal of Justice Ganguly as chairman of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission.
Justice Ganguly has been accused of sexually assaulting a law intern who worked with him. The Supreme Court had set up a three-judge panel, which heard testimonies from both, the law intern and Ganguly and submitted its report to the Chief Justice of India, P. Sathasivam, naming Ganguly as the accused.
The alleged sexual molestation incident is said to have taken place in a five-star hotel in Delhi last December.
