A day after the Supreme Court panel concluded hearing a complaint by a law intern alleging sexual harassment by a former Supreme Court judge, the victim broke her silence stating that “all details” including the identity of the judge was disclosed to the three-judge committee.
The lawyer on her blog said: “As requested by the Committee, I appeared before them on November 18. During the meeting, I presented all the details of the case to the Committee.” She felt disturbed by media reports that suggested that the complainant failed to reveal the identity of the judge.
Terming media reports that she had not identified the judge as “distorted facts,” the lawyer said: “The Committee has assured me of complete confidentiality. Some media reports are violating the confidentiality of testimony given to the Committee.
I revealed identity of judge to committee, says law intern They have been distorting facts, and misreporting my statements. Such pernicious and mala fide reporting must cease immediately.” The blog specifically indicated three publications which quoted “highly-placed sources” to indicate that the intern in question refused to name the judge and wished not to pursue the case. It quoted “sources” to suggest that in the wake of the victim’s decision, the Committee was in a bind and would be forced to conclude the proceedings.
Reacting to the media stories appearing against her, the lawyer requested through her blog, “I would like to request the media to stop speculating on my communications with the Committee, and continue to respect my privacy.” She further indicated that in the light of all details revealed to the Committee: “I am confident that the Committee will follow all the different lines of enquiry, and will establish the truth of my statements.”
It was on her blog the lawyer first reported the assault that took place in December in a hotel room. She was interning with a judge who had recently retired from the Supreme Court and it was there she suffered sexual harassment that left her shocked as the judge was the age of her grandfather whom she respected and revered.
The news was picked up by a national daily following which the Chief Justice of India took cognizance and constituted a panel comprising Justices RM lodha, Hl Dattu and Ranjana Desai. The Committee is expected to submit its report to CJI on the veracity of the intern’s complaint.