Himachal judge suspended over harassment complaint

A civil judge-cum-CJM in Himachal Pradesh has been placed under suspension following a complaint from a woman colleague that he had allegedly harassed her. Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir has ordered a probe into the allegations, sources said here on Thursday. 

The woman is also of the same rank of the accused – civil judge (senior division)-cum-Chief Judicial 

Magistrate (CJM). The alleged incident took place ahead of a national-level conference on drug abuse in Manali from June 11 to 13.

As per the complaint of the woman judge, she was asked to reach Manali in advance in connection with the preparations for the conference that was also attended by judges of Supreme Court and various high courts. On June 8, the accused tried to pressure her to accompany her to a resort and allegedly misbehaved with her, the complaint said.

Later, she made a complaint to the chief justice, who ordered an enquiry into the matter and the accused judge was suspended, pending a probe against him, the sources said. The incident that has stunned the judicial fraternity in the state is believed to be the first of its kind incident in the state amid reports that that the High Court has directed that the investigations in the case be completed within two months.

Himachal Pradesh State Legal Services Authority under the aegis of National Legal Services Authority had organized a conference on “Drug Menace in India? Overview, Challenges and Solutions”