The Bar Council of India has opined that there was “something fishy” in the sexual harassment allegations levelled by a former employee of the Supreme Court against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.
In a statement directed to members of legal fraternity, judges and people of the country, the BCI claimed that there was some very strong support behind the complaint against the CJI.
“The common man of the country is not a fool. Mass was/is realizing that there was/is some very strong backing/support behind the complaint against Chief Justice of India and complainant was/is not at all a simple lady,” the BCI chairman Manan Kumar Mishra stated on Monday.
Throwing light on the incident, the BCI said, “If you examine the complaint and the annexures and see the way facts are narrated; the manner in which she claims to have recorded everything in her mobile while at police station, and the way she has been dealing with police, the Courts, CBI, IB, everyone; If one analyses these things carefully, you will find something fishy.”
The council further said that one should not doubt the decision of three-judge in-house Committee of the Supreme Court, which on Monday gave a clean chit to CJI Gogoi in the sexual harassment complaint allegation against him.
“The Committee has taken the decision after examining the materials and everything carefully; it has adopted the right procedure, which was required in this case. We should not doubt the decision of our three Judges of the committee, otherwise, it will send a very wrong signal and there shall be no end to such malicious complaints against the responsible authorities/persons discharging important functions,” the BCI said.
It further informed that the complainant did not opt to lodge an FIR against the CJI in the matter.
“Before questioning the validity of probe by in-house Committee of three Judges, we should not forget that the lady (Complainant) had approached and lodged her complaint to the Judges of Supreme Court only; she did not opt to lodge a complaint or FIR. She herself has opted this forum and the Judges have decided to hold in-house inquiry on her complaint before them. Even Supreme Court Bar Association had proposed for holding in-house inquiry,” the BCI said.
The three-judge committee constituted to probe the allegations of sexual harassment made by the complainant against CJI Gogoi has cleared him of the charges.
