“I never harassed nor did I make any unwelcome advances to any female intern”, says Justice Ganguly in a letter to CJI

Reacting to the Supreme Court’s 3-member Committee report, Justice (Retd) AK Ganguly, who is accused of sexually harassing a law intern, has written a letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) P Sathasivam denying the allegations against him and stating that he was not given a fair hearing..In a letter to the CJI, Justice Ganguly said, “I wish to make it clear that I never harassed nor did I make any unwelcome advances to any female intern.”.According to media reports, Justice Ganguly in his 8-page letter to CJI said,.“I have been distressed by some recent happenings. I am anguished that the Supreme Court under your Lordship did not address me correctly.No complaint was ever made before the Supreme Court or before your lordships in any form by the intern by any time prior to the formation of the judges committee and presumably on a direction by the Committee she gave her statement.”.Justice Ganguly further said that,.“I was treated as a person in captivity…..I was told that the intern had made a statement with certain annexures. I politely asked the committee to give me a copy. I was shattered to be told curtly that I will not be given a copy as it was confidential and that I must make the statement immediately.”.In his letter, Justice Ganguly has also alleged that he is being targeted for delivering powerful judgments. He said,.“There is a concerted move to tarnish my image as I had the unfortunate duty of rendering certain judgments against powerful interests.I see in the whole game a palpable design to malign me at the instance of interested quarters.”.Justice Ganguly also said that, “I have made helpful contributions to many interns both male and female. To this date, I am treated with unbound respect and regards by them”..Ever since Chief Justice Sathasivam issued a public statement that a 3-judge committee had evidence which indicated a prima facie act of “unwelcome behaviour” by the judge, demands for Justice Ganguly’s resignation had become louder..The calls for Justice Ganguly’s resignation had also gotten louder with Senior Advocate and Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising seeking action against the retired judge and putting the intern’s affidavit detailing the incident in public domain..Last week, Attorney General Goolam E Vahanvati too had given his opinion based on the Supreme Court panel report stating that a prima facie case is made out for initiating the removal of Justice (Redt.) AK Ganguly from the position of Chairman, West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) by sending a presidential reference to the Supreme Court on the ground of “misconduct”..The Law Ministry had sought Attorney General’s opinion on the legal procedure to remove Justice Ganguly as the Chairman of WBHRC.