Harish Salve hits out at Ganguly, says don't cast aspersions on intern

New Delhi: Senior lawyer Harish Salve on Tuesday hit out at retired Supreme Court judge AK Ganguly should not cast aspersions on the law intern. Justice Ganguly is accused of sexually harassing a law intern.

Salve tweeted, "Justice Ganguly's intemperate allegations against the intern are absurd. While some of those nailed for corruption may be cocking a snook at his discomfiture, to suggest that the intern is acting at their behest is preposterous."

He added, "The companies who have lost investments are in a process to salvage what they can. Ganguly's embarrassment does not save their investments and they don't care about who decided against them.

"The judge presiding over the coal allocation PIL was much larger than the 2G and was part of the Committee who gave the report against Ganguly. He didn't find a scent of retribution in the allegations. Nor did he fear that judges who decided such cases were vulnerable.

"Ganguly admits inviting the young lady to a hotel room and dining with her. Does not deny he consumed alchohol- and he was fond of his drink. If the panel of three judges found him guilty, least he can do is not cast aspersions of this kind on the young courageous lady."

The law intern has also hinted at filing a police complaint against Justice Ganguly as the latter claimed innocence and said his version of the story was not heard in a letter to Chief Justice of India P Sathasivan.

The intern said that as National Law School of India University does not have a policy against sexual harassment during internship, filing complaint was the only route. She said, "As the University did not have a policy against sexual harassment of women students during internship, it was indicated to me that any action would be ineffective. I was also informed that the only route for me was to file a complaint with the police, which I was reluctant to do."

The intern added that she authorised Addditional Solicitor General Indira Jaising to make her statement public. "Even after the operative portion of the report of the Committee, was made public, many eminent citizens and legal luminaries continued to deride the Committee's findings, and malign me. To preserve my own dignity as well as that of the Supreme Court, I authorised Additional Solicitor General of India Indira Jaising to make my statement public," she said.

"I request that it be acknowledged that I have the discernment to pursue appropriate proceedings at appropriate times. I ask that my autonomy be respected fully."