As pressure mounts, Ashok Kumar Ganguly 'undecided' to quit as WBHRC chief

As pressure mounted on him to quit as the chief of West Bengal Human Rights Commission over a sexual assault allegation, former Supreme Court judge Ashok Kumar Ganguly today said he was "undecided" on his future course of action.

"I have not decided. I am undecided," Justice(retd) Ganguly told PTI in Kolkata.

"Time has not come to think about it," he said when asked about his future course of action in the wake of demands for his resignation as the Chairman of WBHRC.

Ganguly, who has been accused by a young law intern of sexually harassing her, at the same time received support like from eminent lawyer Soli Sorabjee and former Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir amid a raging debate whether or not he should step down. He has strongly denied the charge.

BJP leader Sushma Swaraj joined the chorus of demands for the resignation of Ganguly, saying "not only Caesar's wife but Caesar too must be above suspicion".

"I strongly feel that Justice A K Ganguly should resign as Chairperson of West Bengal Human Rights Commission", the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha said in a Twitter post.

Defending Sushma's demand, BJP spokesman Shahnawaz Hussain said a lot of questions has been raised in the sexual assault allegation which was a challenge to the credibility of the judiciary.

West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress has already demanded that Ganguly quit office.

"This is the first time such an allegation has been made against a former Supreme Court judge who is at present holding the post of WBHRC chairman. He should resign immediately," said TMC MP Kalyan Bandopadhyay, who is also a senior lawyer.

Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising was also of the view that Ganguly should resign.

"In fact after his name was disclosed in public he should resign from the current position he is holding," she said.

Former Delhi High Court judge R S Sodhi said the allegation is a cognisable offence and should have been probed by the police in the same manner as any ordinary man facing a similar charge is investigated.

Retired woman IAS officer Promila Shanker and Delhi University's former Dean of Law Faculty S N Singh have written a letter to Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam seeking investigation and registration of a criminal case by the Delhi Police against Ganguly.

Seeking Justice Ganguly's resignation, Shanker and Singh said as per the serious allegations of criminal conduct made by him, he has no right to continue as the chairman of WBHRC.