This Article is From May 08, 2019

Women Protesting Top Court Panel's Clean-Chit To Chief Justice Detained

This comes a day after fifty-five protesters, mostly women lawyers and activists, were detained outside the Supreme Court.

Women Protesting Top Court Panel's Clean-Chit To Chief Justice Detained

They were protesting against the clean chit given to Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi in a sex harassment case.

New Delhi:

Seventeen women were detained on Wednesday while they were protesting in New Delhi against the procedure adopted to enquire a sexual harassment case against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.

Justice Gogoi on Monday got a clean chit from the top court's In-House Inquiry Committee which "found no substance" in the allegations of sexual harassment charged against him by a former woman employee of the Supreme Court.

Raising objection to the clean chit given to Justice Gogoi, several protesters, mainly women, holding banners were protesting at Gate No. 7 of the Connaught place metro station.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Madhur Verma said, "They were asked to protest at Jantar Mantar but they continued to protest at Connaught place. Seventeen women were detained and taken to Mandir Marg police station. However, they were released later."

This comes a day after fifty-five protesters, mostly women lawyers and activists, were detained outside the Supreme Court. 

Activist Annie Raja said the complete negation and violation of legal procedure and existing rules of law is unacceptable.

"It will set a precedent that will have a very dangerous impact in the coming year," she added.

The three-member committee, which completed its task in 14 days, proceeded ex-parte as the woman had opted out of the inquiry on April 30 after participating for three days.

The complainant had on Monday said "gross injustice" has been done to her as a woman citizen of India and "worst fears" have come true, and all hope of justice and redress from the highest court of the land have been shattered.

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