Kolkata: Retired judge of Supreme Court Ashok Kumar Ganguly today said he resigned as chairman of West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) 'to obviate any further controversy' while holding that the grounds on which Centre made a recommendation against him to the President were "untenable" and "misconceived.
"I would like to affirmatively say that allegations which are appearing against me in the media both electronic and print are unfounded and baseless and I deny the same," Justice Ganguly said in his resignation letter to Governor M K Narayanan in the wake of allegations of sexual harassment against him by a law intern. The resignation has been accepted and forwarded to the Chief Secretary of West Bengal government by the Governor.
"The purported recommendation to the Hon'ble President for my removal, are based on grounds, which, in my opinion, are untenable and misconceived," Ganguly said in the letter. .
"However, to obviate any further controversy and to ensure peace and happiness of the members of my family and having regard to the fact that I headed the high office of a judge and presently holding the post of chairman of WBHRC and being humbly of the view that I have lived up to the expectation of both, I have decided to resign from the post of chairman of the Commission with immediate effect," the former Supreme Court judge.
Justice Ganguly had met the Governor at Raj Bhavan here yesterday and submitted his resignation.
"I have no attachment to any post unless I can work with dignity and honour and I understand that it is not possible under the present situation," he said in his letter.
Following is the full letter written by retd Justice Ganguly:
"Dear Excellency,
"I would like to affirmatively say that allegations which are appearing against me in the media both electronic and print are unfounded and baseless and I deny the same. The purported recommendation to the Hon'ble President for my removal, are based on grounds, which, in my opinion, are untenable and misconceived,
"However, to obviate any further controversy and to ensure peace and happiness of the members of my family and having regard to the fact that I headed the high office of a judge and presently holding the post of chairman of WBHRC and being humbly of the view that I have lived up to the expectation of both, I have decided to resign from the post of chairman of the Commission with immediate effect,
"I have no attachment to any post unless I can work with dignity and honour and I understand that it is not possible under the present situation,
"This letter may therefore be treated as notice under Section 23(1) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
"However, I make it clear that I have no rancour towards any of my detractors and I wish them well in life,
"I thank you for the courtesies which you have extended to me consistently,
"With regards,
Yours sincerely
A K Ganguly "
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