Hard to believe allegations against judge: former CJI

NEW DELHI, April 07, 2013:: Chief Justice of Supreme court, Justice Altamash Kabir at the Joint conference of Chief Justice of High Courts and Chief Ministers, presided by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, organized by Ministry of Law and Justice after 4 yrs , in New Delhi on April 07, 2013. Photo Rajeev Bhatt.

Expressing shock over the allegations of sexual harassment made by a woman law intern against retired Supreme Court judge, Asok Kumar Ganguly, the former Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir said here on Saturday that he found it hard to believe that “this is possible.”

“I know Asok da for a long time, he has been a member of the judiciary here... we have practised together.

I would never believe this of him,” he told journalists on the sidelines of an event in the city when asked to comment on the developments.

Asked whether Justice Ganguly should resign from his post of chairperson of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission, Justice Kabir said, “Allegations will always be made.

The more people move higher up in their lives the more there are conspiracies against them. Allegations can be made anywhere against anybody. Does that mean he will have to resign?” he asked.

The former Chief Justice of India also cautioned against the “cascading effect” of such serious accusations.

The allegation came to light on Friday that the woman law intern who had faced alleged sexual harassment from a former Supreme Court Judge informed the three-judge probe committee appointed by the Chief Justice of India that it was Justice Ganguly who had harassed her.