New Delhi: The former Supreme Court staff, who has alleged that she was sexually harassed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has said that her character is being damaged without even being heard due to comments made by the various judges who are looking into the issue.
The woman has written to Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde who is heading the in-house enquiry panel on the allegation, expressing her views in no uncertain manner. She has also pointed out that the committee formed does not have a majority of woman and also is without an external member as per the Visakha guidelines and POSH act. She has also raised objection to the inclusion of Justice NV Ramana in the committee.
The former SC staff has also said that comments appearing in the media made by the judges have made her feel ‘helpless and frightened’ and that she is also apprehending that her complaint has already been judged false even without hearing her.
In her letter to Justice Bobde, the woman has said that she is feeling helpless after coming to know Justice Arun Mishra’s comment that the complaint was based on ‘wild and baseless allegations’. She has also highlighted the comments made by other judges on the matter during the course of the hearing in which she has never been called also.
Regarding her objection to the inclusion of Justice Ramana she has said that he is a ‘close friend of the CJI and is like a family member to him’. She has mentioned that Justice Ramana had dismissed her allegations April 20, the day her affidavit was sent to the apex court judges.
In her four-page response to the notice which the Supreme Court has sent her to appear before the committee Friday, the woman has said that while she was posted at the CJI’s residence office, she had seen how close Justice Ramana was to the CJI.
“Honourable Justice Ramana is a frequent visitor to the residence of the CJI. Because of this I fear that my affidavit and evidence will not receive an objective and fair hearing,” she said in her reply sent April 24 to the Supreme Court.
In spite of all the points she has raised in her response the woman still has said that she is hopeful of a ‘fair’ hearing. She however, has said that as an ordinary woman she was ‘full of fear and anxiety as I am in the unfortunate position of having to speak against the Chief Justice of India’.