Ganguly need not resign as rights panel chief: Sorabjee

Sorabjee says, anyone in important position must resign when an allegation is made

Former Supreme Court judge A K Ganguly need not resign from the chairmanship of West Bengal Human Rights Commission in the wake of sexual harassment allegation against him as it would set a "dangerous precedent", former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee has said.

"No. I don't think so. Because he says these allegations are baseless. Why should he?....We are in the realm of accusations," Sorabjee said when asked whether Ganguly, who is accused by a young woman law intern of sexually harassing her, should resign from the post of WBHRC Chairman in the wake of allegations.

He was speaking to Karan Thapar on CNN-IBN's Devil's Advocate programme.

"Suppose it transpires that these allegations were unfounded.... Suppose that happens, should he resign now as chairman of the Human Rights Commission?

"If your logic is accepted, anyone in important position must resign when an allegation is made, which the man denies. I can understand admission... Yes, sorry I did that. Dangerous precedent," the eminent jurist said when asked whether he was giving Ganguly the benefit of doubt.

Reacting to another query about Ganguly's continuation in the post, Sorabjee said, "if he says that I deny those allegations. In a court of law, very often a case which seems a winning case, an open and shut case, turns out to be (different) later.