The Bench and the Bar
Bar, Bench & Litigation
Former Supreme Court Justice Asok Kumar Ganguly, who is also chairman of the West Bengal Human Rights Commission (WBHRC), has quit as honorary professor at NUJS Kolkata, the alma mater of a former intern who accused him of sexual harassment.
Ganguly wrote, according to NDTV: “I voluntarily opt out, don't want to continue as a member of the guest facility and be a burden on NUJS.”
Yesterday the Union Government cabinet cleared the way for a presidential reference to remove Ganguly from his chairmanship of the WBHRC.
Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Altamas Kabir was proposed to become an honorary professor at the college in early December.
Bar, Bench & Litigation
The Union cabinet has greenlit the proposed presidential reference to remove West Bengal Human Rights Commission chairman AK Ganguly, for allegedly having sexually harassed an intern.
President Pranab Mukherjee will now be able to take a call on whether the reference to remove Ganguly under the Human Rights Act will proceed, reported IBNLive.
In reaction, Ganguly told PTI: “I don't want to comment now. I need some time to decide. Please give me some time, later on I will let you know.”
Bar, Bench & Litigation
Twelve faculty members of NUJS Kolkata, the alma mater of the former student who accused retired Supreme Court judge AK Ganguly of sexual harassment during her internship a year ago, have issued a statement in her support.
Bar, Bench & Litigation
As Goolam Vahanvati will submit a legal opinion by tomorrow on the presidential reference to remove AK Ganguly from the WBHRC, Legally India has seen a copy of the inquiry’s report, which is not confidential anymore.
Bar, Bench & Litigation
Senior advocate Pravin Parekh has won the election for president of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for the sixth time last night, after he did not run last year.
Bar, Bench & Litigation
Section #377 attracts international condemnation
The Supreme Court’s upholding of section 377 banning homosexual intercourse, has continued attracting global attention with thousands of newspaper articles globally [Google News], and protests by gay activists around the globe opposing the judgment [Gay Star News]
Anand Grover: #377 review petition and lobbying ongoing
Naz lawyer and Lawyers Collective co-founder Anand Grover confirms that Naz will be filing for a review petition and lobbying with parliament to change the law [DNA]
…as BJP speaks against ‘unnatural’ gay sex, Cong goes for youth
As most commentators in media and academia have criticised the Supreme Court’s decision on section 377, the BJP has come out in support of the verdict, with party president Rajnath Singh saying his party would support a ban “as we believe that homosexuality is an unnatural act” [NDTV] Congress might use the contrast to the BJP’s stance in the s. 377 issue to lure the youth vote away from Narendra Modi, argues the Deccan Chronicle
NCRB to begin publishing #377 ‘crime’ data
Meanwhile, the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) will collect and publish more detailed data on section 377 offences recorded by the police every year [PTI]
Bar, Bench & Litigation
Supreme Court judicial clerkships may no longer remain the preserve of national law schools and select universities after the Delhi high court today ruled as unconstitutional the Supreme Court’s current procedure of inviting applications for the clerkships.
Bar, Bench & Litigation
Former Delhi Bar Association president Rajiv Khosla explained his success in the Supreme Court in his battle against Delhi High Court Bar Association (DHCBA) president AS Chandhiok in the now-postponed DHCBA elections.
Bar, Bench & Litigation
The Supreme Court has criminalised homosexual intercourse between consenting adults today, reversing the Delhi high court’s 2009 decision to overturn section 377.