Madhya Pradesh Higher judiciary hit by sexual harassment charge

New Delhi: A PIL was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday seeking lodging of an FIR and judicial inquiry to take action on the complaint of a woman judge of Gwalior who had accused a Madhya Pradesh High Court judge of sexually harassing her due to which she had to quit judicial service.

The PIL also sought suspension of the judge of the Gwalior bench of the High Court, who had allegedly sexually harassed the woman judge, during the pendency of the inquiry.

Accusing a judge of the Gwalior bench of the High Court of seeking sexual favours from her, the wom-an judge had written to the Chief Justice of India explaining the reasons that forced her to resign from judicial service.

Rejecting the charges made by the woman judge, who also headed the district-level panel to look into sexual harassment in workplace, the HC judge wrote a letter on Monday to the CJI R.M. Lodha offering to face any probe.

“I have highest regard to the institution and concerned about the image of the institution. On repetition, I again say that I do not want any trial by any court,” the judge wrote.