CJI Ranjan Gogoi said the charges were part of a “larger conspiracy to destabilise the judiciary”. Denying the sexual harassment charges, CJI Ranjan Gogoi said he does not think he should “stoop low even to deny the allegations” that have been levelled against him.
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi rejected the sexual harassment allegations levelled against him by a former Supreme Court employee. At a special Supreme Court hearing on Saturday morning, CJI Ranjan Gogoi said the charges were part of a “larger conspiracy to destabilise the judiciary”. “This is unbelievable,” an unfazed Ranjan Gogoi said.
CJI Ranjan Gogoi also said that he did not deem it appropriate to reply to the allegations.
“Last evening, I received four communications from four different news portals. All I would like to say is every employee is undoubtedly treated fairly and decently. This employee was there for a month and a half. Allegations came and I didn’t deem it appropriate to reply to the allegations. I have taken this unusual and extraordinary step of sitting in court today because things have gone too far.”
DON’T THINK SHOULD STOOP LOW TO DENY ALLEGATIONS: RANJAN GOGOI
Denying the sexual harassment charges, CJI Ranjan Gogoi said he does not think he should “stoop low even to deny the allegations” that have been levelled against him.
“This lady has a criminal background. There are two FIRs against her. How did she enter the Supreme Court service when there was a criminal case pending?” Ranjan Gogoi asked. He also said that he would inquire with the Delhi Police on how the woman, who has levelled sexual harassment charges against him, was given a clean chit.
The CJI said there needs to be an inquiry into how the woman, who made allegations against him, was given employment in the Supreme Court “if there was an existing criminal complaint against her”.
ALLEGATIONS TO DEACTIVATE OFFICE OF CJI: RANJAN GOGOI
CJI Ranjan Gogoi has alleged that there was a larger conspiracy to destabalise and deactivate the office of the Chief Justice of India. He said, “I don’t think this [the woman] can be a dismissed employee of the Supreme Court. This has to be a bigger issue.”
“There are two offices in the country which are completely independent – the PMO and the office of CJI. They want to destabilise the office of the CJI considering the very, very important cases that are due to be heard next week. This is pathetic. If these are the circumstances the judges have to work under, good people are not going to become judges.”
THIS IS WHAT I GET AFTER 20 YEARS OF SERVICE: RANJAN GOGOI
CJI Ranjan Gogoi has alleged that the judiciary of the country is under threat. “I will sit on this chair and discharge my judicial functions without any fear,” the CJI said. He also said that after 20 years of service, he has a bank balance of Rs 6.80 lakh but this is what received for his “selfless service”.
“Nobody can catch me on money, people have to find something and they have found this,” he said, adding, “Reputation is all we have and that is under attack.”
