CJI Sexual Harassment Case : SC denies 2 judges met Bobde panel

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Sunday denied the reports claiming Justice Chandrachud and Justice Nariman had questioned holding a hearing in the CJI sexual harassment case without the inclusion of complainant.

The statement, which has been issued from the office of the Supreme Court's secretary-general, said that "it is most unfortunate that a leading newspaper chose to state that the two judges met Justice Bobde."

Further, the statement said that the "in-house committee which is deliberating on the issue concerning the CJI deliberates on its own without any input" from any other judge of the apex court.

Earlier, reports claimed that Justice Chandrachud and Justice Nariman had told the in-house committee that a one-sided hearing without the victim will affect the image of the Supreme Court.

The report had stated that Justices Nariman and Chandrachud had suggested for appointment of an advocate as an amicus curie for assisting the in-house committee.

The inquiry committee had decided to proceed with the hearing even after the woman, who accused CJI Ranjan Gogoi of sexual harassment, refused to appear before an in-house inquiry.

Disappointed with the previous hearings, the woman claimed that she is "not likely" to get justice. "I was repeatedly asked by the committee as to why I had made this complaint of sexual harassment so late," she said.

The ex-SC employee alleged that she was "not allowed" to have a lawyer or any person for legal support during the ongoing hearing in the case.

The woman's allegations against the CJI were first brought to light when some news portals reported about the matter on April 20.