New Delhi, a contractual employee who has alleged sexual abuse by West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, has moved the Supreme Court against the "general immunity" conferred on her by Article 361 of the Constitution.
According to Article 361, criminal proceedings cannot be initiated in court against the Governor during his tenure.
The petitioner has sought directions to formulate specific guidelines under which governors enjoy immunity from criminal proceedings.
"This court has to decide whether a victim like the petitioner can be left without remedy, the only option being to wait for the accused to resign from his position, a delay that will later be inexplicable during the trial, and will make the entire procedure a mere lip service, without justice being done to the victim," the statement says.
The petition also seeks investigation into the case by the West Bengal Police and protection for her and her family along with compensation from the government for her loss of reputation.
The Raj Bhavan contractual employee had lodged a complaint with the Kolkata Police alleging that Bose sexually abused her at the governor's house on April 24 and May 2.
She accused Bose of orchestrating a "ridiculous drama" to divert attention from her actions, and stressed that she should have provided CCTV footage of the premises to police at the start of the investigation.
Images from two CCTV cameras located at the main (north) door, which spanned from 5.32 p.m. m. until 6.41 p.m. m. on May 2, were shown to a select group of people and journalists at the Central Marble Hall on the ground floor of Raj Bhavan.
In the first images, the employee, dressed in jeans and a blouse, is seen running towards the police post located inside the governor's house amid a significant number of police officers deployed on the premises for the Prime Minister's scheduled visit. Narendra Modi on that day.
The second footage, which lasted about 10 minutes, showed several vehicles, including firefighters, arriving at the north gate of Raj Bhavan and police officers queuing up to carry out their usual duties. However, the victim could not be located.
Amid the controversy over the woman's allegation, Bose had filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on June 28, a day after the CM claimed that women complained to her that they were afraid of Visit the Raj Bhavan because of the activities there.
The Calcutta High Court adjourned hearing in the matter till Thursday.
According to Article 361, criminal proceedings cannot be initiated in court against the Governor during his tenure.
The petitioner has sought directions to formulate specific guidelines under which governors enjoy immunity from criminal proceedings.
"This court has to decide whether a victim like the petitioner can be left without remedy, the only option being to wait for the accused to resign from his position, a delay that will later be inexplicable during the trial, and will make the entire procedure a mere lip service, without justice being done to the victim," the statement says.
The petition also seeks investigation into the case by the West Bengal Police and protection for her and her family along with compensation from the government for her loss of reputation.
The Raj Bhavan contractual employee had lodged a complaint with the Kolkata Police alleging that Bose sexually abused her at the governor's house on April 24 and May 2.
She accused Bose of orchestrating a "ridiculous drama" to divert attention from her actions, and stressed that she should have provided CCTV footage of the premises to police at the start of the investigation.
Images from two CCTV cameras located at the main (north) door, which spanned from 5.32 p.m. m. until 6.41 p.m. m. on May 2, were shown to a select group of people and journalists at the Central Marble Hall on the ground floor of Raj Bhavan.
In the first images, the employee, dressed in jeans and a blouse, is seen running towards the police post located inside the governor's house amid a significant number of police officers deployed on the premises for the Prime Minister's scheduled visit. Narendra Modi on that day.
The second footage, which lasted about 10 minutes, showed several vehicles, including firefighters, arriving at the north gate of Raj Bhavan and police officers queuing up to carry out their usual duties. However, the victim could not be located.
Amid the controversy over the woman's allegation, Bose had filed a defamation case against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on June 28, a day after the CM claimed that women complained to her that they were afraid of Visit the Raj Bhavan because of the activities there.
The Calcutta High Court adjourned hearing in the matter till Thursday.
