'Disappointed & Dejected', Says Complainant After Clean Chit to CJI on Sexual Harassment Allegations

Reacting to the clean chit given to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi by the in-house panel in the sexual harassment allegations, the woman complainant in a press release said she was 'highly disappointed and dejected'.

"I am now extremely scared and terrified because the In-House Committee, despite having all material placed before them, has given me no justice or protection and said nothing about the absolutely malafide dismissals and suspensions, indignities and humiliations suffered by me and my family. I and my family members remain vulnerable to the ongoing reprisals and attack", she has said.

"Today, my worst fears have come true, and all hope of justice and redress from the highest Court of the land have been shattered. In fact the Committee has announced that I will not even be provided a copy of the Report, and so I have no way of comprehending the reasons and basis for the summary dismissal of my Complaint of sexual harassment and victimisation", she adds in the complainant.

Expressing reservations about the procedure of the in-house panel, the woman had last week announced her decision to not to participate in the proceedings. Nevertheless, the panel proceeded to continue the probe and ended the enquiry by clearing the CJI of all allegations.

Report Not Liable to be Made Public

Earlier in the day, the In-House Committee, which probed the sexual harassment allegations raised by a former woman employee of the Supreme Court against the CJI Ranjan Gogoi, submitted its report.

The Secretary General of the Supreme Court stated that the committee headed by Justice SA Bobde, also comprising Justices Indira Banerjee and Indu Malhotra, found no substance in the allegations contained in the complaint of the former employee of the Supreme Court.

Referring to Indira Jaising v. Supreme Court of of India, the committee said that the report, constituted as a part of the in-house procedure, was not liable to be made public.

In accordance with In-House procedure, the report dated May 5, 2019 has been submitted to next senior Judge competent to receive the report and also to the CJI, the Secretary General said in a press release.

Courtesy: Live Law