Erode: In an unprecedented case, a subordinate judge of the Sathyamangalam court in Erode district in western Tamil Nadu has allegedly sought an explanation from an office assistant in the court for “refusing to wash his inner garments”.
In a letter dated February 1, the copy of which has been obtained by DC, the sub-judge of Sathyamangalam, D.Selvam, has directed office assistant S.Vasanthi to reply within seven days as to why she had not washed the clothes properly and refused to wash the inner garments.
Interestingly, the letter does not carry the official seal but has been allegedly signed by the sub-judge.
In the letter, the sub-judge states,“You do not properly wash the clothes put for washing in the house of the sub-judge. Especially, you feel very embarrassed to wash the inner garments and throw them away. When the officer and his wife questioned you about it, you talked back. Hence, you should respond within seven days as to why should disciplinary action not be taken against you.”
When contacted, office assistant, Vasanthi told DC that she had been asked to wash the clothes, clean the dishes in the house of the sub-judge.
“On February 1, the sub-judge asked me to wash his inner garments. But I refused. So, he and his wife asked me to get out of the house. Then, he asked me to give an explanation within seven days,” Vasanthi said, in her taped conversation with DC.
The office assistant had to finally tender an apology and get back to work at the sub-judge’s house. “I have to save my job. So, I gave an apology and rejoined work.”
