Ganguly quit demand gets more shrill on rights day

The demand for former Supreme Court judge A.K. Ganguly's resignation as West Bengal Human Rights Commission chief for alleged sexual assault became more shrill on Human Rights Day Tuesday.

The West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences, of which Ganguly is a general council member and honorary professor, said it has taken a "serious" view of the charge levelled against him by a law intern.

Vice chancellor P. Ishwara Bhat said the university's executive council would decide on the issue.

"The executive council has taken the intern case very seriously into account. The intern has so far not filed any specific complaint," he said.

Asked whether justice in the case was not being delayed, the vice chancellor said: "We have certain procedures to follow. He is not coming to university. There is no work at all. He has no work."

Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Derek O'Brien said Ganguly should demit office on World Human Rights Day.

"Former Supreme Court judge Ashok Ganguly is continuing as chief of WBHRC. Sir, please don't mock your office," O'Brien said on Twitter.

Hounded by the media, Ganguly yet again lost his cool during the day.

"I will not answer any question of yours. I will do whatever I have to," said an enraged Ganguly to media persons.

Demands for Ganguly's resignation have been gaining ground after a Supreme Court judges' panel probing the allegation of sexual harassment indicted Ganguly prima facie of an act of "unwelcome behaviour".

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written twice to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking urgent appropriate action against Ganguly.

Meanwhile, a public interest litigation (PIL) has been filed in Calcutta High Court seeking Ganguly's removal as WBHRC chief.

Before the division bench of Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, petitioner Rama Prasad Sarkar urged the court to take necessary steps so that people of the state do not lose faith in the rights panel.

The petition, in which the state government as well as the WBHRC have been made parties, will come up for hearing Thursday.