Judges back Chief Justice on harassment charges
April 22, 2019 23:37
A lawyer today filed an affidavit claiming there is a conspiracy to frame the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi in a "false case of sexual harassment" that would force him to resign.
All 27 judges of the top court have rallied behind the Chief Justice, sources said, following the sexual harassment allegations against him made by a former employee at the top court in an affidavit to several judges.
The judges informally discussed the matter today during the informal meeting over morning tea, a convention of the top court.
The meeting went on longer than usual - the hearings started at 10.45 am instead of 10.30 am - fuelling speculation about a full-court meet to discuss the issue.
Alleging a conspiracy, Chief Justice Gogoi said, "There has to be bigger force behind this, they want to deactivate office of Chief Justice". The allegations, he said, were made as he was scheduled to hear several important cases this week. Since there can be no corruption allegations against him, "people have to find something and they have found this," he added.
Justice Gogoi, who was heading the three-judge bench, said he would not pass any orders and the senior-most judge, Arun Mishra, will dictate the order. The bench, however, refrained from passing any judicial order "at this stage".
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