Sexually harassed by SC judge: Woman lawyer


New Delhi, Nov 12 (PTI): An allegation of sexual assault has hit the Supreme Court with a young woman intern accusing a sitting judge, who retired recently, of misbehaving with her in a hotel room last December when the nation was grappling with the gangrape of a woman in the capital.

The allegation, levelled by the young woman lawyer against an unnamed judge, was raised in the apex court before the Chief Justice with a plea that the issue be taken note of suo motu on the basis of media reports and an inquiry be initiated.

A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam, before whom the matter was brought up by advocate M L Sharma, said "We are conscious of the fact."

The bench refused to pass any order when Sharma said that the matter is very serious and as the head of Indian judiciary, the CJI, should initiate inquiry on the allegation.

The woman, who graduated from National University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS) Kolkata this year and a fellow with an organisation, Natural Justice: Lawyers for Communities and the Environment, wrote about the alleged sexual harassment incident in a blog.

In the blog written on November 6 for Journal of Indian Law and Society, the lawyer said the incident took place last year when she was interning with the apex court judge.

"Last December was momentous for the feminist movement in the country – almost an entire population seemed to rise up spontaneously against the violence on women, and the injustices of a seemingly apathetic government. In the strange irony of situations that our world is replete with, the protests were the backdrop of my own experience.

"In Delhi at that time, interning during the winter vacations of my final year in University, I dodged police barricades and fatigue to go to the assistance of a highly reputed, recently retired Supreme Court judge whom I was working under during my penultimate semester.

"For my supposed diligence, I was rewarded with sexual assault (not physically injurious, but nevertheless violating) from a man old enough to be my grandfather. I won't go into the gory details, but suffice it to say that long after I'd left the room, the memory remained, in fact, still remains, with me," she said in the blog.

The law graduate, also in an interview to a website, said she was harassed by the judge in a hotel room and there were no other witnesses of the incident.

"It was a hotel room, (people) saw me walking in voluntarily, saw me walking out very calmly. I didn't even walk out (with) fear. At that moment I felt I needed to walk out very calmly. I never mentioned anything the same day to anybody," she said while speaking to 'Legally India'.

The woman, who did not mention the date of incident in her blog, has said in the interview with the website that it took place on December 24 last year.

"All the talk during that time was of stricter punishment, of baying for the blood of creepy men. Five years of law school had taught me  to look to the law for all solutions–even where I knew that the law was hopelessly inadequate–and my reluctance to wage a legal battle against the judge left me feeling cowardly. On reflection though, I cannot help but wonder why I should have felt that way.

"As mentioned earlier, I bore, and still bear, no real ill-will towards the man, and had no desire to put his life's work and reputation in question. On the other hand, I felt I had a responsibility to ensure that other young girls were not put in a similar situation. But I have been unable to find a solution that allows that," the blog reads.

She also said despite the heated public debates, a vast army of feminist vigilantes, new criminal laws and sexual harassment laws, she has not found closure.

In the interview, she said, "I have heard of three other cases (of sexual harassment) by the same judge and I know of at least four other girls who have faced harassment from other judges not perhaps as (bad as mine): most of them were in the chambers of the judge and other people around, so it never gets too bad.

"A girl I know faced continuous sexual harassment throughout and sexual advances,and actually faced troubles through her work because of it."

At the end, the woman put a question that when dealing with sexual violence, can "we allow ourselves to embrace feelings beyond or besides anger, and to accept the complexity of emotions that we face when dealing with any traumatic experience?"

On why she came out with the revelation almost after a year, she said in the blog that while the incident affected her deeply, she felt "little anger and almost no rancour towards the man". Instead she was shocked and hurt that a person whom she respected much would do something like this.

"My strongest reaction really, was overwhelming sadness. But this sort of response was new to me. That I could understand his actions and forgive him for them, or that I could continue to think of him as an essentially good person, seemed a naive position that were completely at odds with what I had come to accept was the right reaction to such incidents," she said.

  

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Comment on this article

  • Rosario Fernandes, Kallianpur

    Wed, Nov 13 2013

    First Ministers, MP's, MLS's, Papu's, Sadhu's, Swamy's, Sants &
    now SC Judges. Wa!!!!!!
    Thank you Man Mohan Singh, this is
    the results of your foreign trips.?

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Af, mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2013

    Yes! Daal me kuch kaala hai..

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Langoolacharya, Belman/Washington,DC

    Wed, Nov 13 2013

    Lydia Lobo, Kadri,

    While agreeing with you regarding DNA sample,,,in India its very difficult to prove anything against a sitting Supreme Court Judge... that's why she waited to disclose it till his retirement.

    Anybody in authority abusing it for these atrocities is tragic at least,,, it happens everywhere men in power exploit women be it a religious power (Assaram) or official or political power....

    If some pay a heavy penalty for this type of obnoxious behavior,,, it might become less...

    I don't understand why people should mark disagree with your comments...

    ...JH...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Why complain after 9 months....

    DisAgree [3] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Joseph F. Gonslaves, Bannur, Puttur / Mangalore

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    The Sexual assault and abuse of women is only a tip of an iceberg.

    There are scores of such incidents un-reported.

    The present awareness in the judiciary brings us some light on the crimes and abuses on women.

    DisAgree Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • vinay, mangalore

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Parabagu daane popikalaya!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Golbert C Pinto, Mangalore/Muscat

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    He thought this was gifted for his retirement. Now the situation has reversed...!!! Coming days are busy for him. No rest.

    DisAgree Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Peter, Brahmavar/Sharjah

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Supreme Court judge or President if found guilty punishment must be same as a common man. But this lady might be enjoyed in the hotel room and claiming sexual assault for fame.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amin Bhoja, Patte / Riyadh

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    My personal feeling about this case is that the respected judge chose his profession in two parts one for Personal and another for the Public!!! A conflict and a situation i.e Duty and off duty responsibilities !!!.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • simple, mysore

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    thank god....no comments that modi is responsible.........

    DisAgree [12] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Akash, Mangalore

    Wed, Nov 13 2013

    Dear Simple....Good one:)

    DisAgree [3] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    A Woman intern with a sitting Judge in a Hotel Room!!!! Alas whatever might be the situation, this woman dared to disclose the matter that also against SC Judge means we have no option but to believe her comments. Now even convicted Rapist will also start argue in the Supreme Court that, “What is a big deal in Rape matter, even SC Judge was involved in misbehavior case with their own intern” so clean your courtyard first and then punish me for the crime

    DisAgree [2] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Fernandes, Dubai

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Having said that benifit of doubt has to be given to the lady, thorough investigation is required to further understand the true story.
    I am not fully convinced.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lydia Lobo, Kadri

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Manju,

    "Now the SC Judge had already washed everything. How she can prove it"

    Let the Judge go to Ganga to wash (his sins - no mockery involved) but you pray that she has not kept any sample !

    Anyway, even Rathod was disgraced by the revelations of the late tennis aspirant. This much if the lawyer manages, its good enough.

    She clearly says she is not publicizing it for compensation !

    DisAgree [10] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lydia Lobo, Kadri

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Its is not easy to publicize a humiliating experience such as sexual exploitation. In such circumstances, a victim cannot scream and to seek attention/witnesses to prove what is happening with her.

    I advise any woman who may have undergone situation like this lawyer or still tolerating it, to preserve the clothing that bore fingerprints or any other sample carefully.

    A DNA test on such items can nail the culprit even after a decade !

    DisAgree [19] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lydia Lobo, Kadri

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Oh ! One exploiter has already ed 'disagree' ! He does not want to be caught ! He.. He.. He..

    DisAgree [13] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Looks 'far fetched' M'am the 'decade part'... everything decays in due course and who's seen tomorrow?
    It's the 'eyes' that look and the 'perception of beauty' in the male's heart that needs to change.
    In case of females well...I always give them 'the benefit of doubt' but cannot speak for your friend (!)Sir Braganza and others...
    They may have a different viewpoint on the matter....

    DisAgree [4] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lydia Lobo, Kadri

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Bhandarkar Maam,

    Don't you think its so easy to get away with it ! If decay had so much impact, we would not have known about dinosaurs' existence from their fossils !

    DisAgree [8] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Dinosaurache Doosre Mai! It's different....!

    DisAgree [3] Agree [7] Report Abuse

  • Anand, karkala

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    It is deplorable that sexual harassment is taking place at the doors of justice.

    It would have been more appropriate if the victim named the culprit judge and exposed him in the interest of the public.

    I am shocked to learn that even places of justice are not safe for women.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Manju, Kundapur

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    @ Anand, Karkala,

    Don't you smell this as consensual initially and later turned into sexual harassment?

    DisAgree [1] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lydia Lobo, Kadri

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Manju,

    Don't you think the Judge was taking advantage of her because if she protests she may have to wash her hand offer her being certified as a Lawyer ?

    Moreover, where did she file for compensation to call consensual first and turned harassment later ?

    What she did is correct and timely ! He is retired now, there is nothing he can do to hinder her certification !

    DisAgree [9] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Manju, Kundapur

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    @ Lydia Lobo,

    Now the SC Judge had already washed everything. How she can prove it.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [7] Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Anandanna...
    You 'smell' something sensual or 'feel'?......
    Then there is also the conning into the sensual... according to you here -right/

    DisAgree [3] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Manju....
    Read M'am Lydia's comment...
    'Dhaag Dhundte Reha Jaaoge...O.K.?

    DisAgree Agree [6] Report Abuse

  • Anand, karkala

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Bhandarkar Maam,

    I smell something and feel, but the Judge here washed everything...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [4] Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar, M'lore

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Anandanna
    A 60 nearing Judge....
    Gave an Internee the Nudge ?
    Even if 'Little' did Budge...
    Confident now it'll be deemed Fudge

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Report Abuse

  • For Justice, Abu Dhabi / Ubar

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    Now who will judge this case?

    DisAgree [2] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • ANWAR, Dubai

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    BEALI YADDU HOLA MEAHADHANGEI

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincent Rodrigues, Katapadi/Bangalore

    Tue, Nov 12 2013

    This is the quality of our judges who plead for justice. Really disgraceful if this incident is true. Let us wait and see. Thanq.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse


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