Complainant against CJI seeks copy of inquiry report

A former Supreme Court employee on Tuesday sought a copy of the report by a three-judge in-house committee that on Sunday gave a clean to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on her complaint of sexual harassment.

In a letter written to the panel headed by Justice S A Bobde and comprising two woman judges, Justices Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee, she said, "I have a right to know how, why and on what basis have your Lordships found my complaint to have “no substance”."

Since the copy of the report was being given to the CJI, she was also entitled to it, she asserted.

"I find it rather strange that the complainant in a case of sexual harassment is not to be provided with a copy of the report which finds her complaint to be without substance," her letter stated.

A press release issued by the SC's Secretary-General on Monday stated the in-house inquiry panel found “no substance” in the complaint filed on April 19 through affidavits sent to judges of the top court. It also informed that the report of the committee, constituted as part of the procedure “is not liable to be made public”.

The 35-year-old ex-staff had reacted saying, she was "just highly disappointed and dejected" and felt that "gross injustice has been done to her as a woman citizen of India".

In her letter, she said the Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 in Section 13 provided that both parties have a right to receive a copy of the report.

"Not providing a copy to the complainant while holding her complaint to be unfounded would be a violation of the principles of natural justice and a complete travesty of justice," she said.

From the beginning, there has been a lack of transparency in the functioning of the committee and great prejudice was being caused to her repeatedly, she claimed.