'We Will Examine': Delhi High Court On Alleged Sexual Harassment Of Female Lawyer At Tier-1 Law Firm

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday said it will examine the allegations pertaining to sexual harassment and criminal intimidation of a female lawyer at a tier-1 law firm.

The issue was mentioned before a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vipin Sanghi and Justice Navin Chawla during the post-lunch session.

A female lawyer, also claiming to be a victim of sexual harassment herself, urged that the matter be investigated by the High Court's Sexual Harassment Committee.

She referred to a thread from Legally India website, where a "whistleblower" had disclosed the plight of a female lawyer allegedly facing sexual harassment at the firm (name not disclosed). She added that as per the thread, the victim was now being stalked and the firm is sending goons to intimidate her.

Thus, she urged that the HC's Sexual Harassment Committee may take up the matter and ask Legally India to disclose the IP address of the whistleblower, so that the investigation may progress.

The lawyer further pointed out that the Committee is absolutely "unapproachable" inasmuch its details are unavailable on the HC's website. "No contact details, no room number or phone number or even email address. When a Sexual Harassment Committee is there, it has to be visible and approachable," she said.

She also mentioned another thread posted on Legally India website, where an Advocate had asked if he can get fired for doing a wrong filing, and few of the responses thereto suggest to "bribe" the Court Registry and get the documents changed in the court file.

The Bench assured that it will look into the issue and have it examined.