Gwalior:
A judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, accused of sexual harassment, has said he is willing to face the death penalty, if found guilty.
The charges against him have been detailed by a woman district judge in Gwalior in a note to the Chief Justice of India, RM Lodha, who told NDTV that he has sought a report from the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Among the allegations against the High Court judge is that he asked the complainant to dance "to an item song" at his residence. She says that when she spurned his advances, she was transferred to a remote area as punishment, which forced her to quit her job.
Describing the charges as "totally false," the judge in question has written to the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court saying he is "ready to face any probe by CBI or any agency". He wrote, "...if any allegation be found proved, I am ready even to face death penalty."
In an official statement, the Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice clarified that when the district judge sought an appointment with him, she had been told to file a "formal representation", which she had not done so far. Her representations seeking cancellation of her transfer was rejected by the concerned Administrative Committee of the High Court, the statement added.
A confidential letter sent by the accused judge on August 4 has been forwarded to the Chief Justice of India, according to the statement.
Indira Jaising, former Additional Solicitor General, wants law-makers from different parties to unite and initiate impeachment proceedings against the judge.
"We will not accept just a transfer of this judge. He cannot be allowed to harass women elsewhere," she said, adding that an inquiry into the allegations must be conducted by a committee consisting of one judge each from the Supreme Court and High Court as well as an eminent jurist.
In December, for the first time, the Supreme Court conducted an internal inquiry to investigate sexual harassment allegations by an intern against a former judge. The inquiry determined that the allegations seemed correct but the top court said it could not take any action against the judge because he had since retired.
In January, another retired Supreme Court judge was accused by an intern of sexual harassment. The former judge has denied the charges and the Supreme Court is now determining whether to set up a mechanism that can look at charges of sexual harassment against serving as well as retired judges.
The charges against him have been detailed by a woman district judge in Gwalior in a note to the Chief Justice of India, RM Lodha, who told NDTV that he has sought a report from the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
Among the allegations against the High Court judge is that he asked the complainant to dance "to an item song" at his residence. She says that when she spurned his advances, she was transferred to a remote area as punishment, which forced her to quit her job.
Describing the charges as "totally false," the judge in question has written to the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court saying he is "ready to face any probe by CBI or any agency". He wrote, "...if any allegation be found proved, I am ready even to face death penalty."
In an official statement, the Madhya Pradesh High Court Chief Justice clarified that when the district judge sought an appointment with him, she had been told to file a "formal representation", which she had not done so far. Her representations seeking cancellation of her transfer was rejected by the concerned Administrative Committee of the High Court, the statement added.
A confidential letter sent by the accused judge on August 4 has been forwarded to the Chief Justice of India, according to the statement.
Indira Jaising, former Additional Solicitor General, wants law-makers from different parties to unite and initiate impeachment proceedings against the judge.
"We will not accept just a transfer of this judge. He cannot be allowed to harass women elsewhere," she said, adding that an inquiry into the allegations must be conducted by a committee consisting of one judge each from the Supreme Court and High Court as well as an eminent jurist.
In December, for the first time, the Supreme Court conducted an internal inquiry to investigate sexual harassment allegations by an intern against a former judge. The inquiry determined that the allegations seemed correct but the top court said it could not take any action against the judge because he had since retired.
In January, another retired Supreme Court judge was accused by an intern of sexual harassment. The former judge has denied the charges and the Supreme Court is now determining whether to set up a mechanism that can look at charges of sexual harassment against serving as well as retired judges.
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