C P Krishnan
It is utterly shocking to note that a woman Civil judge from Uttar Pradesh addressed an open letter to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) requesting permission to end her life after her sexual harassment complaint against the District Judge was not properly addressed.
Today (15th Dec 2023) under the direction of the CJI DY Chandrachud, a communication has been sent from the Supreme Court to the Allahabad High Court, seeking the present status of all the complaints filed by the woman judicial officer alleging sexual harassment by the District Judge.
Letter of the Civil Judge
In the letter to the CJI, it is learnt that the woman Civil Judge had highlighted that she had been sexually harassed by a District Judge and his associates. Despite complaints to the Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court, no action was taken, she claimed. When she preferred a complaint to the ICC (Internal Complaints Committee) of the High Court, it took six months to start an enquiry which is nothing but fake as the witnesses in the enquiry were immediate subordinates of the District Judge who is alleged to have indulged in sexual harassment. On Dec 13, she moved the Supreme Court to seek a fair enquiry in the case. However, a bench led by Justice Hrishikesh Roy dismissed her plea.
“I felt like my life, my dignity and my soul have been dismissed. It felt like a personal humiliation” she narrated in the open letter.
AICCWW demanded immediate action
The All India Coordination Committee of Working Women (CITU), in a statement today, demanded immediate action on Complaint of Sexual Harassment of the woman civil judge and to punish the guilty. AICCWW-CITU and CITU expressed their anguish at the shocking revelation of a civil judge from Banda, Uttar Pradesh about the sexual harassment and torture she has undergone to the extent making her seeking permission to end her life.
AICCWW-CITU convenor com. A R Sindhu says that the complaint by the civil judge against a particular district judge and his associates that she was abused in the open court and her continuous complaints including an application for transfer has been of no use, gives a picture of the situation faced by the working women even of the stature of a judge in the judicial system as well.
The statement says “Her (Civil Judge) narration (as reported) that “I wish to tell the working women in India; Learn to live with sexual harassment. It’s the truth of our lives” and “The POSH Act (2013) is a big wholesome lie” reflects the experience of the majority of the working women in our country who are non- unionised and are compelled to fight their battle individually”.
Put an end to sexual harassment
When this is the plight of a Civil Judge, one can imagine what would be the plight of the ordinary woman worker in Public Sector, Private Sector or Unorganised Sector. It is time that the POSH Act (2013) has to be strictly implemented at all levels and the Union and the State Governments should seriously take all steps to put an end to sexual harassment of women at work place.
Rediculous..
பெண்களுக்கான விடுதலை பொது உடமை சமூகத்தில் மட்டுமே சாத்தியம் “
Shame on the part of the CJ of Allahabad High Court to choose to be insensitive to the blatant and brazen act of the District Judge who is alleged to have done affront to the modesty of a Civil Judge who happened to be his colleague in legal forum. Even as one welcome the swift reaction of the Apex Court in the right direction, the civil judge’s generalisation of such offensive against the entire working women is not in good taste. Be that as it may be, stern action is the urgent need of hour against the culprit regardless of the political clout that he might display. Y. Sivam
https://indianexpress.com/article/india/day-after-letter-to-cji-sc-receives-report-on-up-judicial-officials-harassment-complaint-9070232/
Very shocking to read the plight of a woman judge,,,shame on the part of Allahabad High court ..
மகளிர் மாண்பையும் சட்டத்தின் ஆளுமையும் சீர்குலைக்கும் ஆணாதிக்க உணர்வு ! உடனடியாக
வங்கி ஊழியர் அமைப்புக்கள் தங்கள் கண்டங்களை தெரிவிக்க வேண்டும் !
It’s very disgusting to note that injustice has been done to a woman judge. Then what will be the state of an ordinary women.
Atrocious and unbelievable! Oh..it’s U.P.!
This has happened is a misogynistic, patriarchal and bigoted State where not long ago, in 2018, a rape victim, who was raped by a BJP MLA, threatened suicide in front of residence of Yogi Adityanath to register a FIR against the culprits. Hope the country wakes up from it’s slumber and sees reality clearing the cobwebs of religious polarisation from their eyes.