CJI DY Chandrachud Addresses UP Judge's Distress, Seeks Report On Sexual Harassment Allegations By A Fellow Judge

On Thursday, Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud requested the Allahabad High Court administration to provide a status update on the investigation into accusations of sexual harassment. The allegations were made by a female civil judge in the Banda district of Uttar Pradesh against a district judge within the state judiciary and his associates.

Woman Judge From UP Writes Letter To Chief Justice DY Chandrachud

A female civil judge in Banda district has levelled accusations of sexual harassment against a district judge within the state judiciary, along with his associates. In a two-page letter, the judge has sought permission from the Chief Justice to end her life, citing the abuse and harassment she endured during her professional tenure in Barabanki.

The incidents, including disturbing encounters involving the district judge in that jurisdiction, prompted the judge to express her desire for a dignified end. In the letter addressed to the Chief Justice, she pleaded, "Kindly permit me to end my life in a dignified way. Let my life be - DISMISSED." The judge from Banda alleged sexual harassment by a district judge and his associates, expressing feeling treated as ‘utter garbage’ and likening herself to an ‘unwanted insect,’ according to Hindustan Times.

The judge had filed a complaint with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) in July, and later this month, she submitted a petition to the Supreme Court. However, on Wednesday, the bench rejected the petition, stating that since the Internal Complaints Committee was already handling the matter, and a resolution was awaiting approval from the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, there was no basis to entertain the writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution.

The judge alleges that her petition was dismissed within just eight seconds of the hearing. In her letter, she argues that the ongoing enquiry is a 'farce and a sham' as the witnesses are direct subordinates of the accused. She also mentioned that her request for the transfer of the district judge during the investigation to ensure a fair probe was denied.

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"All I requested was that the District Judge be transferred during the pendency of the enquiry. The bare minimum prayer was not heeded to," the letter said as per Hindustan Times.

CJI Chandrachud Seeks Report On Allegations Of Sexual Harassment

Chief Justice Chandrachud has directed the Supreme Court Secretary General, Atul M Kurhekar, to write to the registrar general of the Allahabad High Court, seeking a report on the status of all complaints filed by the woman judge. The request instructs for the report to be provided by the following morning.

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According to Hindustan Times, if someone accuses a judge of wrongdoing, there is a process to investigate it. This investigation is usually done by the high court or the Supreme Court, following their internal rules. The Supreme Court has given guidelines stating that complaints against judges need to be submitted as sworn statements with real facts to the main office of the relevant high court. After that, under the guidance of the chief justice and the administrative judge, the high court starts an investigation based on the details mentioned in the sworn statement.

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