The demand from BJP and Trinamool Congress that retired Supreme Court judge Justice A K Ganguly immediately quit as chief of West Bengal Human Rights Commission over an allegation of sexual harassment grew more strident today after an apex court panel indicted him.
"Since the Supreme Court panel has indicted Justice Ganguli for his unwelcome behaviour, his continuation as Chairman WBHRC is most unwelcome," BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said on Twitter.
West Bengal's ruling TMC said Ganguly should forthwith resign from his post to save the prestige of the high office which he holds.
"The girl intern complained against the retired Supreme Court judge Justice Ashok Kumar Ganguly. It established that the complaint of the girl was prima facie correct," TMC leader and party's Lok Sabha member Saugata Roy told PTI in Kolkata.
"Justice Ganguly should forthwith resign from his post as chairman of the WBHRC to save his own face and save the prestige of the high office which he holds," he said.
To a question, Roy, a former Union minister of State for urban development, said, "The problem is that since the so-called offence is committed in Delhi, the Kolkata police cannot do anything in the matter and only the Delhi police can take action. However, if a PIL is filed in Delhi High Court, it can take action."
"I do not think it is an embarassment for the state government as everybody knows Justice Ganguly was critical of the state government," he added.
Roy said the state government cannot act in haste as it would be construed to be a vindictive action on its part.
The three-judge committee of the Supreme Court has concluded that the statement of the law intern, who had complained against the judge , prima facie discloses an "act of unwelcome behaviour" and "conduct of sexual nature" on the part of the retired judge.
