New Delhi: Retired Supreme Court judge AK Ganguly, accused of sexually harassing a law intern, has written to Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam saying that his side of the story is not being heard. In his letter, he has also protested against the leaked affidavit before the Supreme Court appointed committee which investigated the allegations and called his behaviour "unwelcome" and of a "sexual nature" in the media. "My side of story is not being given a fair hearing," he wrote in a letter to CJI Sathasivam.
Even after protests from the sections of the government and political parties, Justice Ganguly had reiterated his stand that he will not resign as the Chairperson of West Bengal Human Rights Commission.
Justice Ganguly has said that he was denied access to the affidavit containing allegations against him. "I asked for a copy of hearing before the Supreme Court committee but denied on the ground of the confidentiality. In normal law a person whose reputation is at stake should be given the affidavit to respond, I had asked for it but denied," he said.
Earlier, Law minister Kapil Sibal has sought Attorney General GE Vahanvati opinion on the legal procedure to remove Justice Ganguly as the chief of WBHRC. Sibal was also in favour of the President stepping in the Justice Ganguly case.
Sibal had earlier said that the government may intervene and take an action in the matter if the former Supreme Court judge does not resign from the post of the Chairman of the WBHRC. Stating the provisions according to law, Sibal said, "There is a procedure where government can step in on proved misbehaviour. If he does not resign, we will take a position on it."
The government stepped in after the complainant alleged that Justice Ganguly propositioned her and asked her to stay in his room. "The judge informed me that it may not be possible to have a separate room arranged for me, and asked me if I would stay in the same room with him," the complainant said in a statement.
She also added that despite her opposition, Justice Ganguly tried to get close to her. "During the dinner, the judge put his hand on my back and thanked me for agreeing to help him. I moved away, clearly indicating to the judge that this physical contact was unwelcome and not proper behaviour on his part. However, the judge did not remove his hand from my back, and then moved forward to embrace me. At this point, the judge approached me and, standing next to me, he put his hand on my head, and said, 'You are very beautiful'.
"I immediately rose from my seat, but before I had a chance to respond to the statement, he caught hold of my arm, saying, 'You know that I'm attracted to you, don't you? You must be thinking, what, this old man is getting drunk and saying such things. But I really like you, I love you'. When I tried to move away, he kissed my arm and repeated that he loved me," she said in the statement.
Earlier, Additional Solicitor General Indira Jaising wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and sought action against the Ganguly.
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