The Supreme Court today stayed the proceedings of a judicial panel set up to probe sexual harassment allegations levelled by a former woman Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) against a Madhya Pradesh High Court judge after she raised apprehension over getting justice from it.
Issuing notice to the High Court judge, a bench headed by Justice JS Khehar also sought responses from the Secretary General of the Supreme Court and Registrar General of the High Court on her plea to scrap the existing panel and constitute a fresh committtee including two Chief Justices from other High Courts.
“In the meantime, proceedings in furtherance of the order dated August 8, 2014 (of MP Chief Justice)shall remain stayed,” the bench said in its order after a brief hearing.
The former Gwalior judge, who had resigned alleging sexual harassment by the HC judge, had moved the apex court raising questions over the judicial panel to look into her complaint.
In her plea, she has said that her resignation is a “constructive termination” and she be reinstated with all consequential benefits.
She said the HC order of August 8 constituting a judicial panel should be quashed as she felt it will not do justice to her.
“Chief Justice of India in his administrative capacity constitute a committee comprising two Chief Justices from outside the High Court of Madhya Pradesh and another High Court judge and also an external non-judicial member to enquire into her complaint,” the petition said.
She had earlier also raised objections to the inclusion of a MP High Court judge in the committee set up to go into her complaint.
She had said the judge, who had harassed her sexually, was still discharging judicial and administrative functions over the staff who were working with her and have witnessed her victimisation.
The Gwalior judge had also objected to the summons being sent to her husband and daughter to be present at the enquiry.
(Source: PTI)
