Harassment Charges reckless and concocted: MP HC Judge tells Apex Court

The Madhya Pradesh High Court Judge, who is facing allegations of sexual harassment has asserted before the apex Court that the woman judge “was not a disciplined member of the judiciary and after an elapsation of 15 days after the glory of the post she had formerly held, she levied reckless allegations and concocted a story in an attempt to get herself reinstated in service”, reports DNA.

He has claimed that the complainant has cooked up the sexual harassment theory against him after he refused to cancel her transfer order. She is also attempting to get her service back. According to him, the woman Judge and some of her colleagues in a trial court have been on a 'campaign' to defame the judiciary and some of its sitting judges.

The stand has been filed in response to the woman judge’s petition before the apex Court. He claimed, "She has cooked up the sexual harassment theory in order to take undue favours. The sexual harassment imputations are cropping up out of the blue without any prior instances and seem to have been added as an afterthought in an attempt to malign his name (accused judge) as a ticket to get the petitioner reinstated in service.”

The HC Judge also denied making any appropriate remarks against her at the marriage anniversary of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Gwalior held in February this year. He also claimed that he never interacted with her personally except receiving her three telephone calls regarding her entitlement of a peon at her bungalow and also for cancellation of her transfer order; he said he had not given any instruction to any staff to inspect her court room.

Earlier in August, the apex Court had stayed the probe by the panel appointed to investigate the proceedings against Madhya Pradesh High Court Judge who was accused of sexual harassment by a Gwalior Additional District Judge. The Court sent a notice to the accused Judge, the Secretary General of the Supreme Court and the Registrar of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. Read the Live Law story here.

CJI Lodha had urged the formation of a panel comprising of senior Judges in order to investigate the allegations of sexual harassment. Read the Live Law story here.

She contended that until the MP High Court Judge continues to assume his post, the witnesses would not be able to depose in a free and fair manner. She further alleges that one of the two members in the panel had once transferred her and that might lead to prejudice in the investigation. Read the Live Law story here.

In an appalling revelation, the female Judge has alleged being sexually harassed by her administrative Judge. She subsequently had to resign to guard her “dignity, womanhood and self-esteem”. Read the Live Law story here.

The HC Judge has however denied all allegations and has reportedly offered to face any probe by any agency including an investigating agency, ready to “face any penalty, even the death penalty”.

A few female lawyers have demanded an impeachment proceeding against the Judge. They have reportedly moved a resolution in the Supreme Court Bar Association demanding an enquiry into the matter.

Read more news about the allegations here.