Over 300 women lawyers, scholars and civil society groups have written to judges of the Supreme Court of India, expressing their solidarity with the decision of the complainant to withdraw from the in-house committee proceedings into sexual harassment allegations against the Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi.
“The reasons given by her in the letter justify her decision to abstain, especially in the context of total imbalance of power vis-a-vis her on one side and the members of highest judiciary on the other,” said a joint letter endorsed by Forum Against Oppression of Women, North East Network, People’s Union of Civil Liberties, National Federation of Indian Women, All India Progressive Women’s Association, Bebaak Collective among others.
The joint letter sought a Special Enquiry Committee consisting of “credible individuals” be constituted to conduct a thorough enquiry at the earliest and create an atmosphere of transparency and confidence for the complainant to depose, and the complainant be allowed to be represented by a lawyer/support person of her choice.
Read the full letter below:
To
The Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court of India
New Delhi
2nd May 2019
We, members of women’s groups, lawyers, scholars and civil society, stand in solidarity with the decision of the complainant to withdraw from the in-house committee proceedings into her complaint of sexual harassment at workplace, against the Chief Justice of India. The reasons given by her in the letter justify her decision to abstain, especially in the context of total imbalance of power vis-a-vis her on one side and the members of highest judiciary on the other.
Post the Complainant expressing her decision not to participate in the process, the Chief Justice of India is said to have appeared before the Committee and the Committee has decided to proceed with the enquiry ex-parte.
By this very conduct the committee has completely delegitimised itself. If the committee continues to proceed with the enquiry instead of satisfactorily concluding the matter it will raise many more questions.
We write again, calling upon the Supreme Court judges to take corrective steps and put a halt to these proceedings. If they fail to do so, not only the complainant but the citizens of this country, especially women and marginalised sections, will lose faith in the judicial system.
We are aware, that this is an extraordinary case that calls for extraordinary measures to be put in place, as this is a matter pertaining to the highest judicial authority under the constitution.
However, extraordinary measures cannot and ought not to overlook, fundamental principles of natural justice and fair hearing.
We reiterate that the constitution of the three judge Committee is inherently flawed, as the Chief Justice is senior to the three judges hearing the complaint and head of the Institution. The Committee also does not adhere to the spirit of either the 2013 Act or the Vishaka Guidelines, laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court itself in 1997. The absence of an external member, whose role is to ensure that there is no undue pressure or influence on either the complainant or the witnesses during the enquiry, casts a shadow on the intent behind and the purpose of setting up this Committee itself.
Further, failing to stipulate the procedure to be followed, terming the proceeding as an ‘informal’, and not allowing a lawyer/support person to be present, completely ignores the unequal balance of power not only between the parties but also between the complainant and the Committee itself.
The procedure established by law has not only to be followed by those subordinates to the Hon’ble Supreme Court, but by the Supreme Court itself. Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India would have no meaning otherwise.
If the highest judicial authority does not follow its own procedures and stand up in support of the less powerful, it will send a message of disquiet to all those keeping faith in the system.
In order to maintain this faith and to stand with the less powerful, the complainant in this case, we implore the present Committee to immediately stop hearing this Complaint.
We once again demand of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India:
a) A Special Enquiry Committee consisting of credible individuals be constituted to conduct a thorough enquiry at the earliest and create an atmosphere of transparency and confidence for the complainant to depose.
b) The Special Enquiry Committee should follow the norms of the IC and the principles of natural justice and accordingly conduct its enquiry.
c) The Chief Justice of India should refrain from transacting official duties and responsibilities until the completion of the enquiry.
d) The complainant must be allowed to be represented by a lawyer/support person of her choice.
Endorsed By:-
1. Forum Against Oppression of Women, Mumbai
2. Nari Samata Manch, Pune
3. North East Network, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland
4. Labia – A Queer Feminist LBT Collective Mumbai
5. Saheli Women’s Resource Center, New Delhi
6. Bebaak Collective
7. People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Maharashtra
8. National Federation of Indian Women
9. All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA)
10. Nari Ekta Shakti Sangathan, Delhi
11. Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression
12. National Alliance of People’s Movements
13. Nirantar, A Center for Gender and Education, New Delhi
14. Sandhya Gokhale, FAOW
15. Gautam Mody, General Secretary, New Trade Union Initiative
16. Veena Gowda, Advocate, Mumbai
17. Adv Vasudha Nagaraj, Lawyer, High Court of Telangana, Hyderabad
18. Chayanika Shah, Queer Feminist Researcher and Activist, Mumbai
19. Nisha Biswas, Scientist and WSS, Kolkata
20. Dr. Veena Shatrughna, Former Director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
21. Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli, Transgender RTI activist, Telangana
22. Meera Sanghamitra, National Alliance of People's Movements, Telangana
23. Kavita Srivastava, PUCL
24. Adv. Pyoli Swatija, Supreme Court of India and WSS
25. Flavia Agnes, Advocate
26. Sandhya, Progressive Association of Women, Telangana
27. V. Geetha, Historian and Writer, Chennai
28. N. Vasanti, Professor of Constitutional Law, Nalsar, Hyderaba
29. Mary E John, New Delhi
30. Uma Chakravarti, Historian, New Delhi
31. Ammu Abraham, Mumbai
32. Nandita Shah, Akshara, Mumbai
33. Meena Gopal, Mumbai
34. Hasina Khan, Mumbai
35. Shals Mahajan, Mumbai
36. Rohit Prajapati, Vadodara
37. Susie Tharu, Feminist Academic and Researcher, Avneshi, Hyderabad
38. Amit Kumar, Student, LLB, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
39. Sarah Mathews, Sankalp Women's Support Alliance
40. Bijaya Chanda, Advocate, Alipore Court, Kolkata, West Bengal
41. Nityanand Jayaraman, Writer, Social activist. Chennai.
42. Sumi Krishna, Former President (2005-08), Indian Association for Women's Studies, Bengaluru
43. Kiran Shaheen, Journalist and Feminist Activist, New Delhi
44. Uma Shankari, Farmer, Researcher on Water, Environment and Livelihoods
45. Chitra, Labia, Mumbai
46. Adv Lara Jesani, People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Maharashtra
47. Vandita Morarka, Founder/CEO, One Future Collective
48. Tara, Feminist Collective, Sonepat
49. Saumya Malhotra, Democracy Collective , Delhi NCR
50. Arundhati Dhuru, NAPM Lucknow,U P
51. Lovika Jaiswal, Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, Noida
52. Leena Pujari, K C College, Mumbai..
53. Vimal Bhai, National Convenor, National Alliance of People's Movements
54. B.Girija, State Project Manager, Sakhi Telangana
55. Meena Seshu and Aarthi Pai, Sangram, Maharashtra
56. Gita Chadha, Sociologist, Mumbai
57. Shruti Chakravarty, Mental Health Practitioner, Bombay
58. Nandita Narain, Associate Professor, St Stephen's College, Delhi University. Former President, Delhi University Teachers' Association and Federation of Central Universities Teachers' Associations
59. Mitra Mukherjee-Parikh, Former Head, Associate Professor, SNDTWU
60. Dr. Joseph M.T., Department of Sociology, University of Mumbai, Kalina, Mumbai
61. Rukmini Banerjee, Researcher, Mumbai
62. Kabi. S, Mumbai
63. Dr V Rukmini Rao, Executive Director Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Tarnaka, Secunderabad, Telangana
64. Karuna DW, Chennai
65. Padmaja Shaw
66. Purnima Gupta, Delhi
67. Khadijah Faruqui, The Alternate Space Delhi, A Women’s Collective, New Delhi
68. Tanya Jaiswal, Modern school, Noida
69. Supriya Jain, CORO India, Mumbai
70. K Ramnarayan, Uttarakhand, India
71. Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Humans Rights Activist, Mumbai
72. Bharat, Feminist Activist, Vishakha, Jaipur
73. Shahira Naim, Special Correspondent, The Tribune, Lucknow
74. Aiman Khan, Bangalore
75. Varsha Mehta
76. Roshni, Research Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
77. Pallavi Sobti Rajpal, Ahmedabad
78. Meher Bhoot, WDC, University of Mumbai, Mumbai
79. Kusumtai Chaudhari Mahila Kalyani C/o Snehja Rupwate
80. Anupama Potluri, Assistant Professor, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
81. Minakshi Sanyal, Queer feminist activist, Kolkat
82. Poushali Basak, FAOW, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
83. Anita Rego, Social Researcher
84. Smita Parmar, Social Activist, Hajipur, Bihar
85. Swabhiman Lok Seva Sansthan run by Medical Mission Sisters
86. Aruna Rodrigues, Environmental and Agro-ecology, Sunray Harvesters, MP
87. Subhasat
88. Bindu Doddahatti, Advocate, Bangalore
89. Tejaswini Madabhushi, Hyderabad for Feminism
90. A. Suneetha, Senior Fellow, Anveshi Research Center for Women’s Studies
91. Dr. Asma Rasheed, Assistant Professor, EFL University
92. Sumitra Anukram, Founder of Anukram
93. Madhumita Sinha, EFL University, Hyderabad
94. Sajaya K., Independent Journalist and Social Activist, Caring Citizens Collective
95. Khalida Parveen, General Secretary Amoomat Society
96. Madhavi Mirapa, Scholar
97. Uma Bhrugubanda, EFL University, Hyderabad
98. Jayasree Subramanian, Visiting Faculty, Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education, Mumbai
99. Aileen Marques, Advocate Mumbai
100. Pratibha Shinde, Lok Sangharsh Morcha, Nandurbar, Maharashtra
101. Bittu K., Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression, Telangana Hijra Intersex Trans Samiti, Asawarpur, Haryana
102. Tara Murali, Architect, Chennai
103. Padma, Human Rights Activist
104. Samar Bagchi, Educationist and Former Director, Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, Kolkata
105. Nandini Rao, Feminist Trainer and Activist, Women Against Sexual Violence and
State Repression, New Delhi
106. Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Activist and NAPM, UP
107. M. Mandakini, Lawyer
108. Kondaveeti Satyavati Bhumika, Hyderabad
109. Sherin B.S.,English and Foreign Languages University
110. Lawrence, President, Inigo Foundation
111. Madhurima Majumder, Assistant Professor, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development
112. Shyamala Nataraj, South India AIDS Action Programme
113. Anupama J, Counselor
114. M.Sujatha, SPERDS NGO
115. Jayna Kothari, Senior Advocate
116. Bindulakshmi, Mumbai
117. Suresh Melettukochy, Bhopal
118. Jai Sen, Researcher and Editor, New Delhi
119. Shubhada Deshmukh, Mahila Arogya Parishad, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra
120. Sana Contractor, Public Health Researcher, New Delhi
121. Nandita Gandhi, Activist, Mumbai
122. Manisha Gupte, Feminist, MASUM, Pune
123. Madhu Madhavan, Ex. JJP Member, Current PhD student from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
124. Vimalbhai, Matu Jan Sangatgan, Uttarakhand
125. Mamta Singh, Social Worker, Women Rights Activist, Lucknow, UP
126. Rama Melkote, Prof.(Retd) or Political Science, Senior Activist, Osmania
University, Hyderabad
127. S Jeevan Kumar, Human Rights Forum
128. K Sudha, Assistant Professor, DSNLU, Member, Human Rights Forum
129. K Anuradha, Human Rights Forum
130. Janaki Nair, JNU, New Delhi
131. Sujata Patel, Indian Institute of Advanced Study
132. Sukla Sen, Mumbai
133. K. Kiran Mayee, Advocate
134. V. Naga Lakshmi, Advocate
135. Mohammed Shakeel, Advocate
136. Ranjana, Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression, Bhubaneswar
137. Kalpana Karunakaran, IIT Madras
138. Kavitha Muralidharan, Journalist, Chennai
139. Meera Velayudhan, Policy Analyst, Kochi
140. Prema Revati, Educationist
141. Rachana Mudraboyina, Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti
142. Saheli, Women’s Resource Center, New Delhi
143. Vasudha Katju, Researcher, New Delhi
144. Aisha Farooqui, Prof. (Retd) Osmania University
145. Swathy Margaret, Researcher
146. S. Ashalatha, Social Activist
147. Radhika Khajuria, New Delhi
148. Purwa Bharadwaj, Delhi
149. Ketki Ranade, Mumbai
150. Asha Achuthan, Mumbai
151. Vineeta Bal, Pune.
152. Anjali Rawat, Law Researcher
153. Anubha Rastogi, Lawyer, Mumbai
154. Madhu Bhushan
155. Aatreyee Sen, Forum for Human Rights and Justice, Himachal Pradesh
156. Pragya Joshi, PUCL, Udaipur
157. Dr. Albertina Almeida, Advocate, Goa.
158. Vennela Madabhushi, Lawyer, Bangalore
159. Anuradha Pati, Development Professional
160. Soma KP, Independent Research Scholar
161. Lata Singh, JNU
162. Urmilla Chandran, Principal Technical Writer
163. Kaneez Fatima, Activist and Librarian
164. Kalyani Menon-Sen, Feminist Learning Partnerships
165. Masooma Ranalvi, We SpeakOut
166. Srinivas Vellikad, Senior Manager, Documentation.
167. S. Seethalakshmi, Researcher
168. Lakshmi Lingam, Professor, Mumbai
169. Sunkara Rajendra Prasad, Advocate, Vijayawada
170. Vahida Nainar, Mumbai
171. Laxmi Murthy, Journalist, Bangalore
172. Jayasree.A K., Professor, Community Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Kannur, Kerala
173. Shaitan Singh, Law Student, Visakhapatnam
174. Anjana Ramanathan, Advocate
175. Piyoli Swatija, Advocate
176. VS Krishna, Human Rights Forum
177. Smita Gupta, New Delhi
178. Geeta Seshu, Journalist
179. Lakshmi Krishnamurthy
180. Reva Yunus, Azim Premji University
181. Ritu Dewan, Vice President at Indian Society of Labour Economics
182. Sarojini.N, New Delhi
183. Brinelle D'souza, TISS
184. Deeptha Achar, Professor, Baroda
185. Shilpaa Anand, BITS- Pilani, Hyderabad campus
186. Shefali Jha, University of Hyderabad
187. M. Madhavi, Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bangalore
188. Kumar Shubham Raj, Advocate, Bihar
189. Bushra Quasmi, Asst Prof, DSNLU, Visakhapatnam
190. B Syama Sundari, Dastakar Andhra
191. Abha Bhaiya, Jagori
192. Ambika Tandon, New Delhi
193. Anandhi.S, Researcher, Chennai
194. Shalini Gera, Advocate, Bilaspur High Court
195. Govind Kelkar, Senior Advisor – Women, Land & Productive Assets
196. Sharmila Sreekumar, IIT, Bangalore
197. PV Srividya, Journalist, Krishnagiri
198. K. Katyayani, Prof (Retd), Kakatitya University, Warangal
199. Deepa V health Activist, Delhi
200. Sunita Bandewar, Forum for Medical Ethics Society, Mumbai; Vidhayak Trust, Pune
201. Anuradha Kapoor, Kolkata
202. Veena Johari, Advocate, Mumbai
203. Mumtaz Sheikh, CORO Mahila Mandal federation Mumbai
204. Rohini Hensman, Writer & Researcher
205. Dr Sagari R Ramdas, Veterinary Scientist
206. Tashi Choedup, Buddhist Monastic, Human Rights Activist
207. Aditi Joshi, Mumbai
208. Amarjit Singh, Mumbai
209. Kaveri Dadhich, Mumbai
210. Padma, Independent Researcher , Mumbai
211. Shakun Doundiyakhed, Ooty
212. R. Alphonso, Mumbai
213. Neha Singh, Mumbai
214. Shewli Kumar, Mumbai
215. Bharati Kapadia, Mumbai
216. Bindhulakshmi Pattadath, Mumbai
217. Catrinel Dunca, Ahmedabad
218. Nirja Vasavada, Ahmedabad
219. Shumona Goel
220. Mani A., Kolkata
221. Kamaxi Bhate, Mumbai
222. Mridul Dudeja, Mumbai
223. Rakhi Sehgal, Labour Activist, New Delhi
224. Gayatri, Faculty, TISS, Hyderabad
225. Abhiti Gupta, Legal Activist, New Delhi
226. Maneka Khanna, Advocate, Delhi
227. Surabhi Dhar, Advocate, Delhi
228. Zeba Sikora, Advocate, Mumbai
229. Rupali Samuel, Advocate, Delhi
230. Payoshi Roy, Advocate, Mumbai
231. Archit Krishna, Advocate, Chattisgarh
232. Satnam Kaur, New Delhi
233. Reethika Ravikumar, Mumbai
234. Mini Mathew, Advocate, Mumbai
235. Sadhna Arya, University of Delhi
236. Fatima N, Tamil Nadu
237. Poorva Rajaram, Researcher, New Delhi
238. Vanessa Chishti, Jindal Law University, Sonipat
239. Esther Moraes, New Delhi
240. Niti Saxena, Lawyer, Researcher, and Activist, Lucknow
241. Tusharika Mattoo, Advocate, Delhi
242. Maulshree Pathak, Advocate Delhi
243. Shreya Munoth, Advocate, Delhi
244. Sayali Kadu, Advocate, Delhi
245. Shuchi Dwivedi, Advocate, Delhi
246. Rhea Goyal, Advocate, Delhi
247. Sowjhanya Shankaran, Advocate, Delhi
248. Anushree Malviya, Advocate, Delhi
249. Sonal Sarda, Advocate, Delhi
250. Sanya Kumar, Advocate, Delhi
251. Shreya Rastogi, Advocate, Delhi
252. Harshita Reddy, Advocate, Delhi
253. Sanjana Srikumar, Advocate, Delhi
254. Avantika, Advocate Delhi
255. Ninni Susan Thomas, Advocate Delhi
256. Nidhi Rao Gummuluru, Advocate, Delhi
257. Vasundhara Majithia, Advocate Delhi
258. Meghana Sengupta, Advocate Delhi
259. Shailiza Sharma, Advocate, Delhi High Court
260. Kanika Sood, Advocate Delhi
261. Kruti Venkatesh, Advocate, Bombay High Court
262. Bhavana Sunder, Advocate, Bombay High Court
263. Rhea Jha, Advocate, Bombay High Court
264. Devyani Kulkarni, Advocate, High Court, Bombay
265. Khusboo Agarwal, Bombay
266. Sara Ahmed, Bombay
267. Surabhi Singh, Advocate, High Court at Bombay
268. Ronita Bhattacharya, Advocate, High Court, Bombay
269. Jahnavi Vishwanath, Chennai
270. Janaki Abraham, Delhi University
271. Dimple Oberoi Vahali
272. Vandana Mahajan, A Feminist Practitioner
273. Lalita Ramdas, Educator and Citizen, Alibag, Maharashtra
274. Chitra Sinha, Centre for Gender Research, Uppsala University, Sweden
275. Vasudha Sawaiker, Social Justice Action Committee, Goa
276. Amita Kanekar, Writer, Goa
277. Adsa Fatima, Health Activist, Delhi
278. Dr Mira Shiva
279. Dr. Saswati Ghosh, Academic and Activist, Kolkata
280. Amita Pitre, Consultant, Public Health and Gender Justice, Mumbai
281. Gayatri Singh, Senior Advocate, Bombay High Court
282. Bindhulakshmi, Mumbai
283. Radhika Desai, Hyderabad
284. Ritu Menon, New Delhi
285. Shraddha Chickerur, Hyderabad
286. Svati Joshi, Ahmedabad
287. Aruna Burte, Pune
288. Malavika Karlekar, New Delhi
289. Sujata Gothoskar, Trade Union Activist, Mumbai
290. Nalini Nair, SEWA, Kerala
291. Sangeeta Chatterji, FAOW
292. Nisha, National Convenor, WSS
293. Ajita, National Convenor, WSS
294. Shalini, National Convenor, WSS
295. Rinchin, National Convenor, WSS
296. Hiranmay Karlekar, New Delhi
297. Rina Mukerji, Independent Journalist
298. Vibhuti Patel, Mumbai
299. Kavita Krishnan, AIPWA, New Delhi
300. Swarna Rajgopalan, Chennai
301. Chittaroopa Palit, Madhya Pradesh
302. Bondita Acharya, Human Rights Activist, Assam
303. Bela Bhatia, Bastar
304. AI Sharada, Laadli, Population First
305. Amit Mitra, New Delhi
306. Sujata Mody, National Secretary, New Delhi Trade Union Initiative
307. M. Dilli, Joint Secretary, Garment and Fashion Workers Union, Chennai
308. Anju Talukdar, Independent law and development professional, New Delhi
309. Vidha Saumya, Visual Artist, Oshiwara, Mumbai
310. Jasveen Jairath, Consultant, Water and Ecology, Concerned Citizens, Hyderabad
311. Shreya Suresh, Advocate, Bangalore
312. Sowmya Khandelwal, Associate at a Law Firm, Bangalore
313. M.V. Swaroop, Advocate, Madras High Court
314. Tashi Choedip, Queer Buddhist Activist, Bodhgaga, Bihar
315. Mangla Verma, Advocate, New Delhi
316. Chitra Narayan, Advocate, Chennai
317. Anusha Ramanathan, Visiting Faculty, University of Mumbai, Consultant, TISS
318. Richa, Humsafar, Lucknow
319. Sunila Singh, Woman Human Rights Defender, New Delhi
320. Zainab, Humsafar, Lucknow
321. Afroz Jahan, Humsafar, Lucknow
322. Anurekha, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
323. Lalita, National Alliance of Women’s Organizations, Odisha
324. Sister Lissy Joseph, National Domestic Workers Movement, Hyderabad
325. Nikhat Fatima, Journal Activist
326. Vasundhara Vedula, Mumbai
327. Swatija Manorama, Mumbai
328. Amrita Howlader, Kolkata
329. Nazia Akhter, Hyderabad
330. Swarup Beria, Guwahati
331. Arpita Jaya, Quill Foundation
332. Sheela Rahulan, Vanithakalasahithi, Trivandrum
333. Dr. Iris Koileo, Assocaite Professor (Retd.), St. Xavier’s College, Women Writers Group, Vinimaya, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
