CJI Ranjan Gogoi sexually harassed me, says former SC staff; CJI denies and says “country’s judiciary under threat”

A 35-year-old woman who used to work as junior court assistant at the Supreme Court of India has written to 22 judges of the court on April 19 alleging that Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had made sexual advances on her in his residential office on October 10 and 11, 2018, it was reported by scroll.in.

A special sitting took place in the Supreme Court this morning on the matter.

The court assistant, in the affidavit addressed, has alleged that following the incident, she was terminated unceremoniously from her post, and she and her family had to undergo tremendous ordeal and eventually, an FIR was slapped against her and her family in March this year.

The allegations have been denied by CJI Ranjan Gogoi. According to a report in Bar and Bench, “In a response made today by the Supreme Court Secretary General’s office, all the allegations have been denied. Contrary to the officer’s claims, it is stated that there was never any occasion for the CJI to interact with her.

It goes on to state that the officer was dismissed from service as per the procedure. Further, it is asserted that the motive behind the “false and scurrilous allegations” is ‘obviously mischievous.’”

In the Bar and Bench report, it was stated that “CJI speaking about criminal cases against the lady who alleged sexual harassment against him “This is unbelivable. I should not stoop low even in denying it.”

The CJI was even quoted saying, “What I want to tell citizens is that judiciary of this country is under serious threat”. He added that “I will sit on this Bench and discharge my duties without fear and favour till my tenure is over”.

The bench comprising the CJI and Justices Arun Mishra and Sanjiv Khanna said that they were not passing any judicial order “at the moment”, but asked “media to show restraint, responsibility and wisdom so that independence of judiciary is not affected by baseless allegations”.

The allegations are of a serious nature though. The report in scroll.in gives a detailed account of the ordeal the woman has gone through.

Following the incident and after she was already facing harassment and humiliation, the woman was once taken to the CJI’s residence by a police officer to Justice Gogoi’s wife, who then made her “apologise by prostrating on the floor and rubbing nose at her feet”, she mentioned. She followed the instructions, though she did not know what she was apologising for.

She adds in her sworn affidavit that her husband and brother-in-law, both constables with the Delhi Police, were suspended in connection with a case dating back to 2012 that had been mutually resolved.