Justice Indu Malhotra has replaced Justice NV Ramana on the Supreme Court appointed panel to look into the charges against Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi. Justice RV Ramana had recused himself from the panel formed by CJI Ranjan Gogoi, a day after the complainant had raised an objection to his inclusion into the panel.
The new panel, headed by Justice Sharad A Bobde, who is next in line to be the Chief Justice of India, and comprising of Justices Indu Malhotra and Indira Banerjee, is expected to begin its probe into the allegations from Friday.
Justice NV Ramana’s recusal came a day after the former Supreme Court staffer, who has levelled the allegation against Justice Gogoi, had alleged that Justice Ramana is a ‘close friend’ of the CJI. According to the reports, she had stated that Justice Ramana at an event in Hyderabad had termed her allegations as ‘baseless’ and so her complaint may not get "objective and fair hearing" before the committee of which Justice Ramana is a part of. The complainant had also stated that as per the Vishaka guidelines, the panel must have a majority of women.
On Thursday evening, Bar and Bench reported that Justice Ramana has dismissed the “baseless and unfounded aspersions cast on his capacity to render impartial judgment in the matter.” In a letter, Justice Ramana stated: “Let my recusal be a clear message to the nation that there should be no fears about probity in our institution, and that we will not refrain from going to any extent to protect the trust reposed in us. That is, after all, our final source of moral strength.”
Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has been accused of sexual harassment by a former Supreme Court staffer employed with him from May 2018 to December 2018. In a sworn affidavit submitted to 22 Supreme Court judges, the complainant has alleged that she was removed unceremoniously from her post after the incident of sexual assault and her family was also harassed after that.
The Chief Justice of India has denied the allegations, claiming a larger conspiracy against the judiciary.
The in-house panel was formed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi after widespread criticism of the manner in which the three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, comprising of the CJI himself, conducted a suo motu hearing on the allegations.