CJI to appear before Apex court panel on allegations against him

NEW DELHI: Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has agreed to appear before the three-member in-house committee that is looking into the sexual harassment allegation against him by a former employee of the top court. The panel has decided to go ahead with the inquiry even though the complainant, the woman, opted out of the inquiry.

The panel, headed by Justice SA Bobde, had written to Chief Justice Gogoi, asking him to appear before it. His response came Wednesday.

The complainant had withdrawn from the inquiry Tuesday, saying she was boycotting it as she feels that she is "not likely to get justice from this committee".

In a letter, she said she found the "atmosphere of the committee very frightening" and that she felt "very nervous" as she was not allowed to have her counsel with her or discuss the proceedings with her.