May 8, 2019:
The In-House Committee’s decision is totally just & proper, BCI says.
Soon after some women, including advocates, were detained outside the Supreme Court on Tuesday for protesting against the clean chit given to the Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi by an in-house committee that went into the sexual harassment charge against him, Bar Council of India (BCI) chairman Manan Mishra appealed to the members of the legal fraternity to “drop the episode from their minds” as the decision of the committee is “totally just & proper.”
In a statement, he said, “The committee has found no substance in the allegations against the CJI and the decision is totally just and proper. Judiciary is the only ray of hope for the poor people of the country, & the BCI, the State Bar Councils and the Bar Associations of the country believe in maintaining the dignity and sanctity of the judiciary.”
Mr Mishra highlighted some “glaring things” of the episode. “The manner is which she [complainant] claims to have recorded everything in her mobile while at the police station, & the way she has been dealing with the police, the courts, the CBI, the IB & everyone, if one analyses these things carefully you will find something fishy.”
‘Right procedure adopted’
Mr. Mishra said, “The committee has taken the decision after examining the materials & everything carefully, it has adopted the right procedure which is required in the case. We should not doubt the decision of our three-judge committee; otherwise it will send a very wrong signal & there shall be no end to such malicious complaints against the responsible authorities discharging important functions. We should not forget that the lady [complainant] had approached & lodged her complaint to the judges of the SC and not opted to lodge an FIR.”
He requested the members of the Bar to “drop this episode from their minds & the gossiping as it is causing serious harm to the institution.” He added, “One should imagine the mental agony suffered by a respectable man because of someone’s conspiracy to malign his image & to lay so much undue pressure upon him.”
The letter signs off by stating that,
“Bar is sure that not only its members, but every sensible citizen of the country will agree with the views expressed by the apex body of Advocates, and will stand with the highest institution of Justice.”
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BCI Letter on Supreme Court In-House Committee Report (Downloadable PDF)
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