MHA seeking Law Ministry's view in Ganguly case: Shinde

The Home Ministry has sought the Law Ministry's opinion on sending a Presidential reference to the Supreme Court to probe into allegations against Justice (retd) A K Ganguly and give its recommendations on the issue of removing him as chairman of West Bengal Human Rights Commission.

The move came after President Pranab Mukherjee referred to the Home Ministry a letter by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seeking Ganguly's removal from the high post following a law intern's allegation of sexual harassment against the former judge and his refusal to quit the post.

"Papers have come to us. I can say as of now that we have sent to legal department and then after obtaining their opinion, we will go ahead," Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.

The Chief Minister has sought removal of Ganguly as the Chairman of the State Human Rights Commission after allegations of sexually harassing a law intern surfaced against him and sought the President's "urgent appropriate action" against the former judge.

Ganguly, who retired from the apex court more than a year ago, was accused by the intern of sexually harassing her, a charge strongly denied by him, in a hotel room in Delhi last year.

The chairman of State Human Rights Commission can only be removed on the orders of the President following the receipt of the Supreme Court's inquiry report that would be vetted by the Union Cabinet.