Sexual harassment: Former Gwalior judge moves SC, says probe committee biased
Woman judge had accused a state High Court judge of seeking sexual favours from her
New Delhi: A woman judge in additional district and sessions court in Gwalior, who had alleged sexual harassment against a Madhya Pradesh High Court judge moved to Supreme Court on Tuesday conveying dissatisfaction over the setting up of a committee to look into the complaint.
Reportedly, in her plea, the former judge appealed to the apex court to set up an external committee comprising two Chief Justices and one judge of High Court t look into her complaint.
On the directions of the Chief Justice of India, the senior most judge in Madhya Pradesh had formed a panel to investigate the charges. However, the woman judge said he Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh is biased against her and must not be part of any inquiry.
In a shocking revelation of sexual harassment in the higher ranks of judiciary, the woman judge had resigned after alleging that she was sexually harassed by a judge in the Madhya Pradesh high court.
The woman judge had said in her complaint that after she refused to yield to his advances, she was transferred from Gwalior to a remote place in Madhya Pradesh in the middle of her daughter’s academic session. She said, “I resigned in compelling and humiliating circumstances to save my dignity, womanhood, self-esteem and career of my daughter.”
The female judge was heading the Vishaka committee against sexual harassment in her district.
She complained that the HC judge asked her to visit his bungalow alone and perform an 'item number' at a function in his residence. When she didn't turn up, he told her that he had "missed the opportunity of viewing a sexy and beautiful figure dancing on the floor and that he is desperate to see the same.
The story came to light after the female judge wrote a complaint to the Chief Justice of India RM Lodha, Supreme Court judges Justices H L Dattu, T S Thakur, Anil R Dave, Dipak Misra and Arun Misra, as well as the MP HC chief justice.
Earlier this month, she has also expressed her inability to attend an inquiry in Jabalpur if travel expenses, boarding and lodging and safety and security is not guaranteed.
In the option, she was willing to attend the inquiry in Delhi.