New Delhi, January 2
The Union Cabinet today cleared the proposal for a Presidential Reference for the removal of former Supreme Court judge AK Ganguly as head of West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC) in connection with sexual harassment allegations made against him by a law intern.

The decision to make the Presidential Reference was taken at the meeting of the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here this evening.

The Ministry of Home Affair’s proposal to remove Justice Ganguly as WBHRC chief will now be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for approval.

After the President gives his consent, a three-member panel will be formed to probe the charges of alleged misconduct against Ganguly. If found guilty, prime facie, the former apex court judge will be sacked as head of the WBHRC. The plea seeking proposal for Presidential Reference against Ganguly was moved by the WB Government to the MHA, which forwarded it to the Cabinet for its approval. Justice Ganguly has been under scanner for sexually harassing a law intern in December last. He was indicted by an SC panel, which probed the case.

Meanwhile, Justice Ganguly remained adamant and refused to step down as the WBHRC chief. Asked whether he will resign as rights panel chairman after being accused of sexual harassment by a law intern, Ganguly said, “I am going through a painful period of my life and I have not decided anything.” The MHA note had earlier listed three allegations against Ganguly: sexually harassing a law intern, visiting Pakistan without MEA permission and accepting hospitality from a private party as WBHRC chief.