Dejected and terrified: Complainant after CJI Ranjan Gogoi gets clean chit in sexual harassment case
She said that today after CJI Ranjan Gogoi was given a clean chit in the sexual harassment allegations against him, her "worst fears have come true" and "all the hopes of justice have been shattered".
The former Supreme Court woman staffer, who had levelled allegations of sexual harassment against Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, has said that her worst fears have come true and all her hopes of justice have been shattered.
The woman's statement came hours after a three-judge in-house committee probing the allegations of sexual harassment against CJI Ranjan Gogoi gave a clean chit to the Chief Justice of India, saying it found "no substance" in the sexual harassment allegations.
In a statement, the complainant said, "Today, my worst fears have come true, and all hopes of justice and redress from the highest court of the land have been shattered."
The former SC employee also said that she is not just "highly disappointed and dejected" to learn that the in-house committee appointed by the Supreme Court found "no substance" in her sexual harassment complaint against CJI Ranjan Gogoi but also felt that "gross injustice" has been done.
In her statement, the woman said, "I, the woman complainant, a former SC employee, am not just highly disappointed and dejected to learn that the In-House Committee 'has found no substance' in my complaint, but feel that gross injustice has been done to me as a woman citizen of India."
"I am now extremely scared and terrified because the in-house committee, despite having all material placed before them, has given me no justice or protection and said nothing about the absolutely malafide dismissals and suspensions, indignities and humiliations suffered by me and my family," she said.
'I, MY FAMILY MEMBERS REMAIN VULNERABLE TO ONGOING ATTACK'
The former employee of the Supreme Court also said that after the ruling of the in-house committee, she and her family "remain vulnerable to the ongoing reprisals and attack".
"As is known this complaint, in the form of an affidavit, was sent by me to the Justices of the Honourable Supreme Court on April 19, I am alarmed at the conclusion arrived at by the in-house committee, as my accusation of sexual harassment at the workplace and the consequent relentless victimization and reprisals against me and my family, are substantiated by documents and are verifiable."
She said, "On April 26, I had joined proceedings of the in-house committee and from the very beginning expressed serious concerns and reservations that the manner in which the proceedings were being conducted, it would not mitigate the stark asymmetry of power between me and CJI Ranjan Gogoi."
'TODAY, MY WORST FEARS HAVE COME TRUE'
She said that today after CJI Ranjan Gogoi was given a clean chit in the sexual harassment allegations against him, her "worst fears have come true" and "all the hopes of justice have been shattered".
The woman also said that the committee's announcement that the complainant would not be provided with a copy of the report has left her in no position to comprehend why her complaint against the CJI was dismissed.
"In fact, the committee has announced that I will not even be provided with a copy of the report, and so I have no way of comprehending the reasons and basis for the summary dismissal of my complaint of sexual harassment and victimisation," she said.
The complainant said that she would consult her lawyer and decide the steps she would take next. "I will consult my lawyer and decide on the next steps. Today, I am at the verge of losing faith in the idea of justice," she said.
(With inputs from Aneesha Mathur)
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