Several Rajya Sabha members on Wednesday moved a notice for impeachment of a Madhya Pradesh High Court Judge facing allegations of sexual harassment of a subordinate in a district court. The woman additional judge in Gwalior had to resign alleging sexual harassment by Justice SK Gangle. The victim in her complaint to the President and Chief Justice of India and the law Minister, alleged that Gangle had asked her to “dance to an item song” and influenced her transfer to a remote location.
Eminent lawyer and Rajya Sabha member KTS Tusli moved the impeachment motion against the judge and 58 members including D Raja, Digvijay Singh, KC Tyagi, Satish Chandra Mishra are signatory to the impeachment notice to Chairman Hamid Ansari. To move impeachment motion in Rajya Sabha, there is a requirement of 50 members of the House. The matter is also in the Supreme Court. Three years ago Rajya Sabha had impeached Justice Soumitra Sen who was found guilty of misappropriation of funds.
The victim resigned on July 15, 2014 and wrote to the CJI and others on August 1, Friday evening. “If this is how a mother, sister and wife can be treated, who is herself no less than a judicial officer duty-bound to protect society and law, what constitutional goals are we servingIJ” said the woman. She also headed a Vishaka committee against sexual harassment.
In her complaint to the higher authorities, she alleged that the High Court judge constantly pestered her and once sent her a message through an official to “perform dance on an item song” at a function at his home. She said she excused herself saying it was her daughter’s birthday. She also alleged that when she spurned the judge’s “various advances and malicious aspirations”, he targeted her professionally.