A panel to probe sexual harassment allegation against retired SC judge

After the stunning allegation against Supreme Court judge for sexually harassing an intern, Chief Justice of India Justice P Sathasivam on Tuesday constituted a three-judge panel to probe into this case. Justices RM Lodha, HL Dattu and Ranjana P Desai will now investigate the matter.

“The committee will go into the whole affair and find out the facts and prepare the report. Sexual harassment incidents can never be tolerated and I have assured the AG that the new committee of judges will go to the bottom of charges and submit a report as soon as possible,and we cannot take it lightly,” CJI said.

“Action will be taken on the basis of the report submitted by the inquiry committee. As the head of the institution, I am also concerned about the allegation and anxious whether the statement is true or not,” he added.

A law graduate student from Kolkata-based National University of Juridical Sciences has alleged that she was sexually harassed by a recently retired Supreme Court judge.
In her blog on November 6, she said that the judge who was “”old enough to be her grandfather” had harassed her in a hotel room at a time when Delhi had erupted against the brutal gang rape of Nirbhaya.

In her interview to ‘Legally India’ on Monady, she said, “I have heard of three other cases (of sexual harassment) by the same judge and I know of at least four other girls who’ve faced harassment from other judges — not perhaps as (bad as mine): most of them were in the chambers of the judge and other people around, so it never gets too bad. A girl I know faced continuous sexual harassment throughout and sexual advances, and actually faced troubles through her work because of it.”

• About the Author

About Sprightly Spirit

“I dare do all that may become a man. Who dares more is none”. And all, may be. It may be the vigor. Or the spirit. Or the courage to avoid being “politically correct” or bent. And, ban all averse with immaculate overture of graciously fathomable words firm in views. Subtle. Justifying the undying conscience. Values. Knowledge. And, dares to stay true. True to own. True to the world. And, to the words. With a dream in eyes it exists. In you. In me. In all. The sprite that never shies away. The spirit that never dies!