<p class="title">Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who on Saturday morning constituted a special bench with him and justices Arun Mishra and Sanjiv Khanna to deal with allegations of sexual harassment against himself, opted out mid-way during the hearing after denying the allegations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During the around 30-minute hearing, he said he was not going to be a part of the judicial order and Justice Arun Mishra, the senior most judge available in Delhi, would dictate the order.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The CJI's presence in the bench which was constituted to deal with the sexual harassment allegations against him invited criticism from certain quarters. While a section defended it saying that he has no forum to clear his stand as he cannot go to media, others said there was a clear conflict of interest in the case.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The CJI said the responsibility of holding this special sitting was his being the CJI and he took this "unusual and extraordinary step because things have gone too far. The judiciary cannot be made a scapegoat".</p>.<p class="bodytext">During the hearing, the CJI said there was a "common thread" in the communications sent to him by four news portals that carried stories on allegation of sexual harassment against him. He claimed that a "bigger force" could be behind the controversy to "deactivate" the office of the CJI.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I do not think I should stoop too low even to deny these allegations. But that comes after 20 years of selfless service as a judge...If such things will happen then no judge is going to decide the matters. He (judge) will say why should I decide. Then I will come (in the court) and simply adjourn the cases. Why any sane person will want to become a judge? Reputation is the only thing which a judge has," the CJI said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said "reputation" is the only thing which a judge has and added, "if such things will happen then no judge is going to decide matters. He (judge) will say why should I decide. Then I will come (in the court) and simply adjourn the cases. Why will any sane person want to become a judge?".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The CJI alleged that the woman, who levelled the allegations, has a criminal record and two FIRs were lodged against her. When she was employed with the apex court, an FIR was pending against her, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"How can she become a Supreme Court staff when an FIR was pending against her," the CJI said, adding that two criminal cases were also pending against her husband.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I felt that this should be told from the highest seat of judiciary," he said, adding, "Independence of judiciary is under very, very serious threat. It is pathetic".</p>
<p class="title">Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, who on Saturday morning constituted a special bench with him and justices Arun Mishra and Sanjiv Khanna to deal with allegations of sexual harassment against himself, opted out mid-way during the hearing after denying the allegations.</p>.<p class="bodytext">During the around 30-minute hearing, he said he was not going to be a part of the judicial order and Justice Arun Mishra, the senior most judge available in Delhi, would dictate the order.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The CJI's presence in the bench which was constituted to deal with the sexual harassment allegations against him invited criticism from certain quarters. While a section defended it saying that he has no forum to clear his stand as he cannot go to media, others said there was a clear conflict of interest in the case.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The CJI said the responsibility of holding this special sitting was his being the CJI and he took this "unusual and extraordinary step because things have gone too far. The judiciary cannot be made a scapegoat".</p>.<p class="bodytext">During the hearing, the CJI said there was a "common thread" in the communications sent to him by four news portals that carried stories on allegation of sexual harassment against him. He claimed that a "bigger force" could be behind the controversy to "deactivate" the office of the CJI.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I do not think I should stoop too low even to deny these allegations. But that comes after 20 years of selfless service as a judge...If such things will happen then no judge is going to decide the matters. He (judge) will say why should I decide. Then I will come (in the court) and simply adjourn the cases. Why any sane person will want to become a judge? Reputation is the only thing which a judge has," the CJI said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">He said "reputation" is the only thing which a judge has and added, "if such things will happen then no judge is going to decide matters. He (judge) will say why should I decide. Then I will come (in the court) and simply adjourn the cases. Why will any sane person want to become a judge?".</p>.<p class="bodytext">The CJI alleged that the woman, who levelled the allegations, has a criminal record and two FIRs were lodged against her. When she was employed with the apex court, an FIR was pending against her, he said.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"How can she become a Supreme Court staff when an FIR was pending against her," the CJI said, adding that two criminal cases were also pending against her husband.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I felt that this should be told from the highest seat of judiciary," he said, adding, "Independence of judiciary is under very, very serious threat. It is pathetic".</p>
