CJI Ranjan Gogoi Denies Sexual Harassment Allegation Against Him Calling It ‘Larger Conspiracy’, Says ‘Independence of Judiciary Under Threat’

New Delhi, April 20: The Supreme Court on Saturday called for a special hearing to deal with sexual harassment allegations against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi that were floating in several media reports. Days after media publications like Scroll, The Wire and Caravan carried the news, the top Court called for a special sitting to address the issue, what it termed to be an issue of 'great public importance'. A three-judge bench comprising of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna sat in the Chief Justice’s court while the Attorney General & Solicitor General assisted the Court.

The bench was constituted after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who mentioned before the officials of the top Court official the allegations of sexual harassment that cropped up against the CJI, which were published by news organisations. According to Live Law, after Gogoi’s remarks, Mehta said that the allegations sounded like a “blackmail technique”.

The CJI led bench did not pass any orders on allegations and asked media to show restrain to protect independence of judiciary. CJI Gogoi said the  allegations are baseless and said the matter would be considered by senior judges of the court and the judges said an appropriate bench would hear the charges against him. After the letter was circulated by a dismissed SC employee alleging that CJI has sought sexual favours, the Secretary General replied to the judges and called for a special sitting into the matter.

The Allegations

The hearing was called after a detailed story on sexual harassment allegations against CJI Ranjan Gogoi by a former Court employee surfaced in some media reports. The woman, who worked as a junior court assistant, wrote to 22 judges of the top court alleging that the CJI had sexually harassed her at his residence office on October 10 and 11, 2018. Gogoi, however has rubbished the claims and has denied the charges.

In her affidavit dated 19th April, 2019, the woman informed that after she brought to light Gogoi's acts, she was moved out of his residence office and dismissed from service on December 21. The woman further appealed to the judges to form a special enquiry committee of senior retired judges of the Supreme Court to inquire into her charges.

Gogoi Rubbishes All Allegations, Says 'Judiciary Under Serious Threat'

During the hearing, CJI Ranjan Gogoi said the independence of judiciary is under very very serious threat. "If the judges have to work under these conditions, good people will never come to this office", he added. During the hearing, Gogoi informed that on Thursday evening, i.e. April 19, he received four communications from four different news portals.

Gogoi Hurt Over Allegations

Upset over the allegations, Gogoi said, "This is the reward CJI gets after 20 years , a bank balance of 680,000. This I thought should be told from highest seat of judiciary". "With a bank balance of 6,80,000 that is in my bank account. This is my total asset. When I started as a judge, I have much hope. On the verge of retirement I have 6 lakhs", he added.

Bigger Plot to Destablise the Judiciary: CJI

In the course of the hearing, Gogoi said he has  taken this unusual and extraordinary step of sitting in court today because things have gone too far. Gogoi said he believes that this can be of a plot of junior assistant and said here is a bigger plot behind all this as some want to deactivate the office or CJI. Terming this a bigger ploy to destablise the judiciary, Gogoi claimed that her allegations were part of a 'bigger plot.

Woman Who Filed Allegations Has Criminal Background

Gogoi said the allegations leveled against him are by a woman who has a "criminal background". "There are two FIRs against her. How did she enter Supreme Court service when there was criminal case pending? I inquired with Delhi Police", he said.

The CJI said every employees are treated fairly and decently and as allegations were baseless, he didn't pay attention to them. "All I would like to say is this, undoubtedly every employees are treated fairly and decently. This employee was there for a month and half. Allegations came and I didn't deem it appropriate to reply to the allegations", the CJI said during the hearing on Saturday.

The judges, however, ended the session on Saturday, saying that they were not passing any order. Reports inform that the judges said they were “leaving it to the media” to ensure that through their coverage the independence of the judiciary was protected.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 20, 2019 12:13 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).