'Dejected and terrified', says complainant after CJI gets clean chit
What's the story
The former Supreme Court employee who leveled sexual harassment allegations against CJI Ranjan Gogoi said she was terrified and felt dejected after he was cleared of all the charges by the top court on Monday.
In a statement, the complainant said her "worst fears have come true" and her family remains vulnerable.
Earlier, she had exited the probe panel after being upset with proceedings.
Clean-chit
Backstory: In-house panel didn't find 'substance' in woman's claims
On Monday, the in-house panel headed by Justice SA Bobde and including Justices Indira Banerjee and Indu Malhotra found "no substance" in the woman's claims.
Handing over a clean-chit to CJI Gogoi, the panel said it is not liable to make the findings public.
Now that the "investigation" seems over, retired Justice AK Patnaik will probe claims of SC's independence being under threat.
Statement
Gross injustice has been done, said woman
In her first reaction to the judgment of the panel, the woman said, "I am highly disappointed and dejected to learn that the in-house committee 'has found no substance' in my complaint and feel that gross injustice has been done to me as a woman citizen of India."
To recall, the woman had written an affidavit to 22 SC judges detailing her harassment.
Quote
Woman said her claims are verifiable
"I am alarmed at the conclusion arrived at by the in-house committee, as my accusation of sexual harassment at the workplace and the consequent relentless victimization and reprisals against me and my family, are substantiated by documents and are verifiable," her statement read.
Probe
Panel didn't understand power-imbalance between her and CJI, she claimed
About the manner the inquiry was conducted, the woman said it did not take into account the stark asymmetry of power between her and CJI Gogoi.
During the inquiry, the woman had asked for a legal representative to accompany her, but her request wasn't entertained.
Though she appeared before the panel twice, she wasn't given documents of her statements. Subsequently, she quit the panel.
Quote
Woman doesn't know why her complaint was dismissed
"The committee has announced that I will not even be provided with a copy of the report, and so I have no way of comprehending the reasons and basis for the summary dismissal of my complaint of sexual harassment and victimization," the woman added.
Opinion
The woman followed 'due process', it didn't take her anywhere
The woman concluded her statement by saying she would consult her lawyers before deciding the next step.
The way the complainant's case was handled raises questions on "due process" which sexual harassment victims are "advised" to follow.
The woman mustered the courage to speak against one of India's most powerful men and the temple of justice let her down in more than one ways.