A one-sided justice

The complainant in the sexual harassment case against the Chief Justice has not been fairly treated. Institutional bias is visible in the inquiry, which leaves complaints about victimisation unaddressed.

justice gogoi case, justice gogoi sexual harrassment case, cji ranjan gogoi, cji gogoi, cji ranjan gogoi sexual harrassment case, indian express — Though the sitting was unprecedented and extraordinary, what is even more unprecedented and extraordinary is that the record of proceedings did not indicate the presence of the CJI on the Bench. (Illustration by CR Sasikumar)

Eleanor Roosevelt said: “Justice cannot be for one side alone, but must be for both.” Was justice done to the Supreme Court staffer who made two allegations on affidavit — first of unwanted physical contact by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and second, of victimisation? For the present purposes, I would only like to consider the allegation of victimisation. The allegation of victimisation relates to a departmental inquiry that continued despite the hospitalisation of the complainant; her dismissal from service for expressing dissatisfaction about her frequent transfers and not reporting for duty but taking unauthorised half-day casual leave; the dismissal of her brother-in-law from service in the Supreme Court; the suspension from service of her husband and another brother-in-law and her arrest in an unrelated case.