CJI Sexual Harassment Allegations : NLSIU Alumni Expresses Disappointment At Procedure Followed By In-House Panel [Read Letter]

The alumni of the National Law School of India University has issued a statement expressing 'disappointment' that the in-house committee is following an informal procedure instead of the best practices set out under the POSH Act and Vishakha guidelines.

"We express our disappointment that, in establishing an ad-hoc in-house committee that is said to be following an unstated "informal" set of procedures, the Supreme Court appears to have fallen well below these best practices," said the letter signed by 165 alumni.

The letter have endorsed the articles written by Women In Criminal Law Association (published by Live Law) calling for best practices to be followed in the issue.

"It is our view that the Supreme Court must hold itself to the highest standards in cases involving allegations of sexual harassment. We do not believe that has happened in the instant case", said the letter.

Stating that the atmosphere of the in-house committee was "frightening" , the woman who alleged sexual harassment by the Chief Justice of India has decided not to participate in the proceedings.

Despite that, the committee has decided to proceed ex-parte and has examined the CJI.

It was on April 23 that a panel of Justices Bobde, Ramana and Indira Banerjee was constituted by the CJI to probe the allegations levelled by the former Junior Court Staff.

Later, the woman addressed a letter to Justice Bobde objecting to the inclusion of Justice Ramana in the in-house panel and had claimed that he was a frequent visitor of the residence of the CJI and is a "close friend of the CJI and is like a family member to him". She had also pointed out that on April 20, the day her affidavit was sent to the Supreme Court judges, Justice Ramana, speaking in Hyderabad, had dismissed her allegations. This led to the recusal of Justice Ramana, who was replaced by Justice Indu Malhotra.

 Read Letter