Politicians demand quizzing of ex-SC judge Ganguly on sexual assault charges

Politicians on Monday pressed for quizzing of former Supreme Court judge A.K.Ganguly over allegations of sexually assaulting a law intern.

BJP lawmaker Kirti Azad said: "I think the matter is very serious and demands serious action."

The three-judge committee of the Supreme Court, which probed the complaint filed by the law graduate against Ganguly, said there was prima facie evidence.

The Supreme Court set up a three-judge panel, which heard testimonies from both the law intern and Ganguly and submitted its report to Chief Justice of India, P. Sathasivam, naming Ganguly as the accused.

It is the first time that India's Supreme Court has set up an internal inquiry into sexual harassment allegations against a presiding or former judge.

Shiv Sena Sanjay Raut said: "Until the case is being investigated and a decision is taken, he should not hold any post."

Denying the allegations, Justice Ganguly, 66, said that he was "shocked and shattered" by the allegations made against him by a 22-year-old lawyer who had interned with him.

Ganguly is the Chairman of Human Rights Commission in eastern state of West Bengal and has presided over numerous cases involving crimes against women in his career as a judge.

The law intern wrote in a blog post on November 06 that a top judge assaulted her in a hotel room last December - just when huge protests were taking place over the fatal gang rape and murder of a physiotherapist in New Delhi.

Furthermore, Leader of the ruling Congress, Jagdambika Pal, said a complete judicial review should take place.

"Mr. Ganguly has been found guilty by the Supreme Court sub-committee also, whatever judicial proceedings have to take place, it will," said Pal.

The intern's allegations created a media furore - with female lawyers and activists calling for the country's top court to investigate the incident and for the accused judge to be named publicly.

The report has not been made public and it is not clear what action the chief justice will take, but lawyers and feminists are calling for a police complaint to be registered and for an inquiry.

The case is one of a small but growing number in which victims of alleged sexual harassment have come forward to complain about powerful male superiors.

Activists say sexual harassment and abuse by powerful and privileged men is widespread in India, but few women have been willing to talk about it.