SC seeks response on mechanism to address sexual harassment complaints against judges
India Today
A bench headed by Justice S K Kaul issued the direction with regard to a 2014 case filed by a law intern, who had accused a retired Supreme Court judge of sexually harassing her.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought its secretary general’s stand on the mechanism in place to deal with sexual harassment complaints against sitting and retired judges.
A bench headed by Justice S K Kaul issued the direction with regard to a 2014 case filed by a law intern, who had accused a retired Supreme Court judge of sexually harassing her.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the petitioner, sought to file some additional material in view of the lapse of time as to how processes have evolved. Senior counsel Jaising also sought the secretary general’s stand on record in relation to the practices.
The court granted four weeks' time to the petitioner to file the same on record and four weeks thereafter to the secretary general to place the stand on record.
The case will next be heard on November 15.
When the case was taken up in January 2014, the court had decided to consider the aspect raised in one of the prayers that “as on date, there is no mechanism to enquire into the complaints of sexual harassment against all judicial officers, sitting or retired judges, whether while holding office or not.”
The apex court had issued a notice and considering the importance of the issues raised and formulate a permanent mechanism, sought assistance of senior advocates Fali S. Nariman and P.P. Rao, senior members of the Bar, to act as amicus curiae.
