For the first time in the country, a judge will face impeachment proceedings on charges of sexual harassment. JD(U) president Sharad Yadav, senior lawyer and Rajya Sabha member KTS Tulsi and senior lawyer Indira Jaisingh at a joint Press conference on Thursday alleged that the Madhya Pradesh State judiciary system too, did not help the victim and the Chief Justice did not give her time even after several attempts made by the victim.
Yadav welcomed the admission of motion of impeachment by Rajya Sabha Chairman Hamdi Ansari against MP High Court Judge SK Gangele and said that the motion was necessitated by the “failure” of the judiciary to act against him for allegedly sexually harassing a woman judge. Ansari admitted the impeachment motion of Gangele on March 17 under Section 3 of the Judges (Inquiry) Act, 1968,
Tulsi and Jaising said that they were compelled to initiate efforts to give a notice of motion for the removal of Gangele as the safety of women in work places in general and more particularly, in judiciary is of utmost importance.
Tulsi said that it was perhaps the first instance when the process to remove a judge has been initiated in a case of sexual harassment as so far the other cases related to corruption. Tulsi, who is also a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha, said that the Chairman of the Upper House in consultation with the Chief Justice of India will now set up a Committee to examine the matter. Jaising said that she was hopeful that MPs of all parties including the ruling BJP will support the motion.