Supreme Court Reinstates Woman Employee Who Accused Former CJI Gogoi Of Sexual Harassment

The Supreme Court has reinstated a woman staffer who had accused the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi of sexual harassment. The woman has joined the duty and proceeded on leave. All her arrears too have been cleared, according to the Indian Express report. Earlier, the S.A. Bobde in-house committee had found “no substance” in the sexual harassment allegations levelled against Ranjan Gogoi.

A statement issued by the Supreme Court had said the committee’s report was kept confidential. As part of the in-house procedure, the report would not be placed in the public domain, the court had added.

To this, the woman had written to the Supreme Court’s in-house probe committee, saying "I have a right to know how, why and on what basis have your Lordships found my complaint to have 'no substance'," the complainant said, adding she was "deeply shocked" on the outcome of the committee's findings.

"Despite my detailed affidavit, ample corroborative evidence and clear, consistent statement reiterating my experience of sexual harassment and consequent victimisation, the Committee has found no substance in my complaint and affidavit," she said.

"I, the woman complainant, a former Supreme Court employee, am not just highly disappointed and dejected to learn that the In-House Committee 'has found no substance' in my complaint, but feel that gross injustice has been done to me as a woman citizen of India.

"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 mala fide 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 said in a press statement.

Gogoi rejects charges

Gogoi had strongly denied the allegations of sexual harassment against him. "Independence of judiciary is under very, very severe threat. There has to be bigger force behind this, they want to deactivate office of CJI. This is unbelievable. I don't think I should stoop low even to deny these allegations," PTI news agency had quoted the him as saying during a special hearing.