Faculty members of the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences today alleged that Justice (Retd) A K Ganguly was trying to do "character assassination" of their ex-student who had complained of sexual harassment by him and demanded his removal as an honorary professor of the law institute.
"We are particularly appalled at the insinuation by the retired judge that she is a political pawn and strongly condemn this character assassination," a statement signed by 12 faculty members of the law institute, where the intern had studied, said.
Voicing their concern against "unwarranted statements" from several quarters attributing political motives to the intern's blog posts and deposition, the teachers also demanded that Ganguly be removed as an honorary professor from the premier law institute.
There is already a persistent demand for Justice Ganguly to step down as the chairperson of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission following indictment by a Supreme Court panel on the former law intern's allegation.
In a recent letter to Chief Justice of India Justice P Sathasivam, Justice Ganguly had claimed that there was a "palpable design" to malign him as he had rendered judgements against "powerful interests".
The faculty said, "We also condemn all other statements that attempt to politicise the issue. Such statements are deeply disrespectful to her and trivialise her experience. These insinuations are also symptomatic of the manner in which issues of gender and power are turned into partisan political contests and we call upon all to resist such attempts," they said.
Stating that Ganguly's continued association with the institution undermines the ideals of NUJS that has always strived to teach and foster justice, including gender justice, the faculty requested the university's administration to take immediate steps to see to it that necessary action is initiated against the former judge.
"We believe that the position of a professor is that of trust and requires that such person be above reproach, especially above allegations of misbehaviour with students, particularly when such allegations have been found to have prima facie merit by a high-level committee," they said.
NUJS Vice Chancellor P Ishwara Bhat has already said that the matter can be taken up in the next meeting of the Executive Council.
"However in light of the findings of SCC (Supreme Court committee) and Supreme Court's direction in Vishaka (case), requiring the employer to take steps affirmatively, we call upon the NUJS administration including the Executive Council, the body responsible for appointments, to appropriately address this matter with utmost urgency," the statement said.
