Judge Faces Sexual Harassment: A Concern For The Safety Of Citizens And Questioning The Accessibility Of Justice

Recently, the CJI took note of a letter sent by a female judge from Uttar Pradesh who accused a district judge and his associates of sexually harassing her. The letter surfaced on social media which caught the attention of the CJI Dr DY Chandrachud. He later called for a report from the Allahabad High Court to get the details of the case.

The letter was written after no action was taken over her complaint of sexual harassment against the district judge in question. The victim was posted in the Banda district and wrote the letter seeking permission to ‘end her life’ as the implementer of ‘justice’ didn’t receive justice herself.

On December 13, 2023, the Supreme Court dismissed her petition observing: “Since the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) is already in seisin of the matter and a resolution is already passed which is pending approval of the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court, we see no reason to entertain this writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution.”

According to the reports, the Supreme Court Secretary General Atul M Kurhekar has now sent a missive to the Allahabad High Court registrar general, seeking a status report on the matter.

In the letter, the judge wrote, “I joined the judicial service with much enthusiasm and in the belief that I would dispense justice to the common folk. What I know is that I will be soon rendered a beggar for justice on every door that I go to… I have been sexually harassed to the very limit. I have been treated like utter garbage… I feel like an unwanted insect. And I hoped to provide justice to others. What naive me! I wish to tell all the working women in India: Learn to live with sexual harassment. It is the truth of our lives.”

She also mentioned her struggle to find someone willing to hear her plea, “No one listens, no one bothers. If you complain, you will be tortured. Be submissive. And, when I mean no one listens, that includes the Supreme Court. You will get eight seconds of hearing, an insult and a threat to impose costs.”

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“You will be pushed to commit suicide. And if you are lucky (unlike me), your first attempt at suicide will be successful. If any of the women think that you will fight against the system, let me tell you, I couldn’t.”, she added.

A system which cannot give justice to its own, how can it give justice to others ? #justicforwomenhttps://t.co/CxOQNzCoVF

— Indira Jaising (@IJaising) December 14, 2023

While many have come in her support, others have brushed it off as mere gossip.

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With minimal consequences for the accused, the victim tries to end her life.

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