Skip to main content

Sexual harassment allegation: President of India told to ask CJI to abstain from performing duties

By A Representative
The Movement for Secular Democracy (MSD), a Gujarat-based rights organization has, in a memorandum, asked the President of India to intervene and protect the credibility of the Supreme Court following the recent incident of allegations of sexual harassment on the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
The memorandum says, “Today, we are facing an unprecedented crisis of credibility of the Supreme Court. In dealing with a complaint of sexual harassment against the Chief Justice of India, the court has failed to adhere to the principles of natural justice and follow established principles of law for the inquiry into sexual harassment allegations.”
“We stand in solidarity with the complainant”, asserts the memorandum, adding, “We strongly object to the summary dismissal of the allegations and absolving of the CJI without adherence to the norms of a fair and independent inquiry.”
It adds, “The procedure followed in this case not only stands in utter violation of the basic tenets of natural justice, but also in contravention of both the letter and spirit of Vishakha Judgement and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2013 that seek to recognise and mitigate imbalance of power and ensure a safe and equal environment for women at work-place.”
Expressing shock over the “blatant misuse of power exercised by high-ranking legal authorities”, the memorandum demands setting up of an independent committee to inquire into the allegations made by the complainant, who should be allowed to take the help of a lawyer to correct the imbalance of power between the parties, insisting, the CJI should abstain from performing legal and administrative duties during the course of the inquiry.
The signatories include Prakash N Shah, Dr Svati Joshi, DN Rath, Dr Neha Shah, Meenakshi Joshi, Nirjhari Sinha, Rajesh C Raval, Smita Pandya, Usha Vaghela, Tanushree Gangopadyay, Neela Jayant Joshi, AD Shukla, Dr Kanu Khadadiya, Dashrath Shrimali, Gautam Vaghela, SK Dabhi, Suryaben Shah, Mahendra Raval, Mehul Trivedi, NR Malik, Tanmay Timir, YG Goswami, Nanu Vaidya, Deena Patel, and NM Brahmbhatt.

Comments

Post a Comment

NOTE: Hateful, abusive comments won't be published. -- Editor

TRENDING

The making of a self-made woman: How eighty sheep changed everything for Kalawati Ninama

By Vikas Meshram*  About forty-two kilometres from Rajasthan's Banswara district, in the tribal heartland of Ghatol block, lies the small village of Ubapana. This is where Kalawati Ninama, her husband Dhulji, and their four children make their home. Their days unfold much like those of their neighbours—bustling mornings, long hours of farm labour through the afternoon, and evenings spent tending livestock. For this family, farming and livestock were once simply a means of putting food on the table. Today, they have become the sturdy foundation of something far greater: genuine self-sufficiency.
Post a Comment
»

India has spent billions on skilling. Where are the jobs?

By Vikas Gupta   India loves the photograph of a certificate ceremony. A minister on a stage. A banner bearing the word “skill.” Young people holding folders that promise a future. It is a reassuring image because it tells us the problem has a manageable answer: train the young, make them job-ready, and work will follow.
Post a Comment
»

BAPS, the Eiffel Tower and the curious silence on secularism

By Rajiv Shah   I was a little surprised to see how some of those whom I respect for taking a firm stand on patriarchal issues reacted to the manner in which they responded to the recent incident in Paris, in which women employees of the Eiffel Tower were asked to remain "invisible" on September 5 when 100 BAPS sadhus visited one of the world's top tourist destinations.
3 comments
»