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Yet another allegation of sexual harassment against a Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi begs the question - will this top judiciary body remain the safe space it should be to demand justice?
Yet another allegation of sexual harassment against a Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi begs the question – will this top judiciary body remain the safe space it should be to demand justice?
A former junior court assistant at the Supreme Court of India in an affidavit on Friday, April 19, wrote to 22 judges of the apex court making allegations of sexual harassment by the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi at his residence office on October 10 and 11, 2018.
The apex court had a special hearing on Saturday to deal with a “matter of great public importance touching upon the independence of judiciary”. This ex-employee also alleged that she was subjected to vendetta and persecution after that.
During the hearing in CJI’s court No. 1 today Justice Gogoi denied the allegations. “This is unbelievable. I don’t think I should stoop low even to deny these allegations,” he said, adding, “There has to be bigger force behind this, they want to deactivate the office of CJI.”
The Court also called upon “the wisdom of media to act responsibly on allegations of sexual harassment against the CJI”. Amidst the ironic situation where the accused CJI shall preside over the court and is expected to discharge his judicial functions without fear or prejudice, this isn’t the first time sexual harassment has been a topic of concern at the highest judicial body of India.
In 2013, former Supreme Court judge Ashok Kumar Ganguly was accused by a woman intern on charges of sexual harassment and later in 2014 another former Supreme Court Judge Swatanter Kumar was accused of sexual harassment by a woman law student.
In 2016 India’s first woman additional solicitor-general and the first-ever woman to become senior advocate in the Bombay High Court, Indira Jaisingh, had also made allegations of being sexual harassed in the precincts of the Supreme Court but without naming anyone or pointing to any specific incident.
It is an open secret that just like all other institutions in our country, our judiciary isn’t an enabling or safe space for women and has displayed its sexist and misogynist tendencies often, whether it is in the form of rampant sexist remarks and stands regarding disputed matters like a law against marital rape or in various instances of sexual crimes.
In the light of such allegations Indian women are bound to scrutinise their equal legal rights in this democracy and feel threatened as some of the institutions that are meant to defend these rights seem to be encroaching on them.
The secretary general of the Supreme Court of India has called the recent allegations false, scurrilous and totally denied these. The statement went on to say that the woman and her family had criminal antecedents. The Lok Sabha elections are on in India in phases and in such a politically charged environment in all likelihood the undue politicisation of such a sensitive and shocking sexual harassment case is also likely.
Though this matter is now sub-judice, it has once again highlighted the lack of transparency in some of the highest institutions that we have. The Supreme Court which is undoubtedly one of India’s most vital public institutions must act in a manner to restore the faith of its common people in the judiciary and the justice system.
A three-member in-house enquiry committee of the Supreme Court, has found no substance in the complaint of sexual harassment made by a former Supreme Court employee against the Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi. The committee consisting of Justices S.A Bobde, Indira Banerjee and Indu Malhotra through a note released to the public by the Secretary General of the Supreme Court, said the findings of the report would be not be made public.
Image source: YouTube
Pooja Priyamvada is an author, columnist, translator, online content & Social Media consultant, and poet. An awarded bi-lingual blogger she is a trained psychological/mental health first aider, mindfulness & grief facilitator, emotional wellness trainer, reflective read more...
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Neelu might have outwardly forgiven Ramesh, but in her mind, which once was filled with unconditional love for Ramesh, there was now a seed of resentment.
Ramesh’s footsteps paused at the entrance of the hotel’s ballroom. Inside, his school’s reunion party was going in full swing. The air was heavy, as expensive perfumes and the aroma of food from the buffet table, mingled. There were low murmurs, tinkling laughs and clinks of cutlery.
Ramesh had not wanted to come, knowing that she would be there. She, Neelu, who once had been the love of his life. Taking a deep breath, Ramesh entered the room. His eyes found Neelu almost immediately. She still looked the same. Maybe there was now grey in her hair and a few wrinkles on her face. But her vivacity, her mannerisms were still the same. Things, that had first attracted him.
Arathi Rajagopalan, founder of 'House of Kalart', talks about thinking like a designer & transitioning to thinking like a business owner.
Excerpts from an interview with Arathi Rajagopalan, founder of ‘House of Kalart’ – a fusion jewellery label that merges global aesthetics and traditional craftsmanship.
When did you start ‘House of Kalart’ and what was the intention?
I started House of Kalart in 2017 as a venture where painting, drawing and embroidery are married with metalsmithing to create well-handcrafted fashion jewellery. Along with painting and styling, the venture aims to create a holistic fashion experience for a bold and dramatic woman!” As a child, I had always been fascinated by arts and crafts.
In a clear travesty of justice, CJI Ranjan Gogoi has been given a clean chit by a 3-judge panel, which he set up himself, to investigate a sexual harassment case against him, and the details will not be made public. What faith should people have in 'due process'?
In a clear travesty of justice, CJI Ranjan Gogoi has been given a clean chit by a 3-judge panel, which he set up himself, to investigate a sexual harassment case against him, and the details will not be made public. What faith should people have in ‘due process’?
“Nemo judex in causa sua.” This was the first legal maxim I learned when I was training to get into law school, way back when I was in grade 12. It means, “No one can be a judge of their own cause.” Simply put, it was a rule against bias of all kinds, where one’s vested interests became a disqualifier in their engagement in deciding on a case.
Since the Chief Justice of India was given a clean chit by a panel that he constituted to investigate a charge of sexual harassment against him last night, this maxim has been jumping about in my mind. The panel comprised three members, Justices SA Bobde, Indira Bannerjee, and Indu Malhotra. They dismissed the complaint on the ground that they found no substance in the allegations in the complaint. Justice SA Bobde indicated that the report was submitted to the Chief Justice and the next senior judge of the Supreme Court of India, and that because it was an informal inquiry, it was not liable to be made public.
Priya Ramani had been acquitted in the defamation case against her, but MJ Akbar has now filed an appeal against it in the Delhi HC. A look at powerful men and their entitlement.
The trending piece of news since yesterday has been MJ Akbar filing an appeal in the Delhi High Court against journalist Priya Ramani’s acquittal.
Priya Ramani had been acquitted in February in the defamation case filed by MJ Akbar against her by the Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court in Delhi. As reported yesterday, the former union minister filed an appeal against Priya Ramani’s acquittal the Delhi High Court.