Chairman of West Bengal Human Rights Commission Justice AK Ganguly arrives at his office in Kolkata
Former Supreme Court judge AK Ganguly, indicted for sexual harassment, is reportedly planning to step down as chairman of the West Bengal human rights panel.
Justice Ganguly has been under intense political pressure to step down since allegations that he sexually harassed an intern in December 2012, surfaced two months ago.
Sources say the 66-year-old doesn't want to face the embarrassment of a Presidential reference seeking his removal as head of the commission and is likely to submit his resignation to Governor MK Narayanan soon.
Responding to reporters' questions on Sunday on the possibility of his resignation, Justice Ganguly only said, "No comments."
Earlier this week, the Union Cabinet had cleared a request for a Presidential reference to the Supreme Court to forcibly remove Justice Ganguly. President Pranab Mukherjee would formally request the top court to submit a report on the controversy to him. If the court indicts him, then the President will order Justice Ganguly's removal.
The Supreme Court is also expected to hear a public interest litigation in support of the former judge, which argues that he is being framed by detractors.
In an indication of an announcement by the retired judge, former Attorney General Soli Sorabjee on Sunday said, "Justice Ganguly spoke to me over telephone and said that he is thinking of resigning."
Mr Sorabjee also said that he told Justice Ganguly that it would be a "wise decision" to resign, according to the Press Trust of India.
Last month, a committee of three Supreme Court judges found the former judge guilty of sexually harassing a woman intern at a five-star hotel in Delhi. The panel indicted him for what it called "unwelcome behaviour" and "conduct of sexual nature" towards the woman.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has since written to the President twice, seeking his removal.
Justice Ganguly has denied the allegation and challenged the committee's findings in a letter to Chief Justice of India, P Sathasivam.