Ganguly resigns as NUJS honorary professor

Kolkata, Jan. 3:

Beleaguered West Bengal Human Rights Commission chairman, Justice (retd) Ashok Kumar Ganguly, on Friday resigned from the post of honorary professor of the National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), a student of which had made allegations of sexual harassment against him.

Some members of the faculty were expressing their reservation about my continuation. So I have sent my resignation today, Ganguly said. On the resignation from the post of chairman of the WBHRC, he said earlier today that he would prefer to remain quiet.

I have read about it (cabinet clearance of presidential reference) in newspapers. What can I say about it? The development of events is not in my hand. I havent decided anything and would prefer to stay quiet, Justice Ganguly said.

The process for removal of Justice Ganguly as WBHRC chairman moved a step forward on Thursday with the Union Cabinet approved a proposal for sending a Presidential reference to the Supreme Court for a probe into the allegation of sexual misconduct against a law intern who was the student of the NUJS.

The proposal will be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee who will then send the matter to the Chief Justice of India seeking a probe into the issue based on the three points raised in the reference.

A three-judge Supreme Court committee formed by the Chief Justice of India had earlier indicted Justice Ganguly of committing an act of unwelcome behaviour and conduct of sexual nature towards the woman law intern.

Justice Ganguly on Friday attended the office of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) as usual, though for a brief period.

Asked on the presidential reference, Justice Ganguly said that the development of events is not in his hand.

(This article was published on January 3, 2014)

Original post:
Ganguly resigns as NUJS honorary professor