Ganguly's role as Bengal rights panel chief lauded

A section of the city's intelligentsia Tuesday met former Supreme Court judge A.K. Ganguly and appreciated his role as chairperson of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission while regretting his resignation from the post.

Members of the Democratic Citizens Forum of West Bengal, led by its chief advisor, octogenarian academician Sunanda Sanyal, met Ganguly at his residence here and handed him a letter of appreciation

"We have been deeply pained at the turn of events leading to your decision of stepping down as the chairperson of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission," read the letter.

The forum also observed that Ganguly was always on the radar of the state government for taking tough decisions and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had vilified his decisions.

Ganguly, accused of sexually harassing a former intern, stepped down from the panel as a chorus for his resignation led by the Trinamool Congress gained momentum ever since the allegation become public.

Jadavpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra, who was arrested for circulating emails mocking Banerjee and Pradip Mukherjee - a primary school teacher who spearheaded a movement against rape and murder of a student in North 24 Parganas district - were also part of the seven-member team that met Ganguly.

The letter also said the recommendations made by Ganguly as the rights panel chair in cases like arrest of Mahapatra were a "pleasant surprise" and it was "depressing" the state government either rejected or ignored his recommendations.

The development comes as the Banerjee administration appointed former state police chief Naparajit Mukherjee as the acting chairperson of the WBHRC amidst strong opposition from civil rights groups.