Open Letter to the Hon'ble Judges of the Supreme Court from women's movement group

Open Letter to the Hon'ble Judges of the Supreme Court from women's movement group including AIPWA, other people's organizations, lawyers, academics,  activists and concerned citizens  demanding that the in-house committee cease its present enquiry and instead a Special Enquiry Team be constituted in the extraordinary circumstances and all procedures as per Vishaka Guidelines and SH Act be followed by the Apex Court, and expressing solidarity with the courageous complainant.

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2nd May 2019

To, 

The Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court of India

New Delhi

We, members of women’s groups, lawyers, scholars and civil society, stand in solidarity with the decision of the complainant to withdraw from the in-house committee proceedings into her complaint of sexual harassment at workplace, against the Chief Justice of India. 

The reasons given by her in the letter justify her decision to abstain, especially in the context of total imbalance of power vis-a-vis her on one side and the members of highest judiciary on the other.

Post the complainant expressing her decision not to participate in the process, the Chief Justice of India is said to have appeared before the Committee and the Committee has decided to proceed with the enquiry ex-parte. 

By this very conduct the committee has completely delegitimized itself. If the committee continues to proceed with the enquiry instead of satisfactorily concluding the matter it will raise many more questions.

We write again, calling upon the Supreme Court judges to take corrective steps and put a halt to these proceedings. 

If they fail to do so, not only the complainant but the citizens of this country, especially women and marginalized sections, will lose faith in the judicial system. 

We are aware, that this is an extraordinary case that calls for extraordinary measures to be put in place, as this is a matter pertaining to the highest judicial authority under the constitution. However, extraordinary measures cannot and ought not to overlook, fundamental principles of natural justice and fair hearing. 

We reiterate that the constitution of the three judge Committee is inherently flawed, as the Chief Justice is senior to the three judges hearing the complaint and head of the Institution. The Committee also does not adhere to the spirit of either the 2013 Act or the Vishaka Guidelines, laid down by the Hon’ble Supreme Court itself in 1997.  

The absence of an external member, whose role is to ensure that there is no undue pressure or influence on either the complainant or the witnesses during the enquiry, casts a shadow on the intent behind and the purpose of setting up this Committee itself. 

Further, failing to stipulate the procedure to be followed, terming the proceeding as an ‘informal’, and not allowing a lawyer/support person to be present, completely ignores the unequal balance of power not only between the parties but also between the complainant and the Committee itself. 

The procedure established by law has not only to be followed by those subordinates to the Hon’ble Supreme Court, but by the Supreme Court itself. Articles 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India would have no meaning otherwise. 

If the highest judicial authority does not follow its own procedures and stand up in support of the less powerful, it will send a message of disquiet to all those keeping faith in the system. 

In order to maintain this faith and to stand with the less powerful, the complainant in this case, we implore the present Committee to immediately stop hearing this Complaint.

We once again demand of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India:

a) A Special Enquiry Committee consisting of credible individuals be constituted to conduct a thorough enquiry at the earliest and create an atmosphere of transparency and confidence for the complainant to depose.

b) The Special Enquiry Committee should follow the norms of the IC and the principles of natural justice and accordingly conduct its enquiry.

c)   The Chief Justice of India should refrain from transacting official duties and responsibilities until the completion of the enquiry. 

d) The complainant must be allowed to be represented by a lawyer/support person of her choice.

Endorsed By, 

1.  Forum Against Oppression of Women, Mumbai  

2. Nari Samata Manch, Pune

3. North East Network, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland 

4. Labia - A Queer Feminist LBT Collective Mumbai

5. Saheli Women’s Resource Center, New Delhi  

6. Bebaak Collective

7. People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Maharashtra

8. National Federation of Indian Women

9. All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA)  

10. Nari Ekta Shakti Sangathan, Delhi

11. Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression

12. National Alliance of People’s Movements 

13. Nirantar, A Center for Gender and Education, New Delhi 

14. Sandhya Gokhale, FAOW

15. Veena Gowda, Advocate, Mumbai

16. Adv Vasudha Nagaraj,  Lawyer,  High Court of Telangana,  Hyderabad 

17. Chayanika Shah, Queer Feminist Researcher and Activist, Mumbai

18. Nisha Biswas,  Scientist and WSS,  Kolkata

19.  Dr. Veena Shatrughna,  Former Director,  National Institute of Nutrition,  Hyderabad

20. Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli, Transgender RTI activist, Telangana

21.  Meera Sanghamitra, National Alliance of People's Movements, Telangana

22.  Kavita Srivastava, PUCL 

23. Adv. Pyoli Swatija, Supreme Court of India and WSS

24. Flavia Agnes, Advocate 

25.  Gautam Mody, General Secretary, New Trade Union Initiative

26. Sandhya, Progressive Association of Women, Telangana 

27. V. Geetha, Historian and Writer, Chennai  

28. N. Vasanti, Professor of Constitutional Law, Nalsar, Hyderaba

29. Mary E John, New Delhi 

30. Uma Chakravarti, Historian, New Delhi

31. Ammu Abraham, Mumbai

32. Nandita Shah, Akshara, Mumbai 

33. Meena Gopal, Mumbai 

34. Hasina Khan, Mumbai

35. Shals Mahajan, Mumbai  

36. Rohit Prajapati, Vadodara 

37. Susie Tharu,  Feminist Academic and Researcher, Avneshi, Hyderabad 

38.  Amit Kumar, Student, LLB, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi

39.  Sarah Mathews, Sankalp Women's Support Alliance

40.  Bijaya Chanda, Advocate, Alipore Court, Kolkata, West Bengal

41.  Nityanand Jayaraman, Writer, Social activist. Chennai.

42. Sumi Krishna, Former President (2005-08), Indian Association for Women's Studies, Bengaluru

43. Kiran Shaheen,  Journalist and Feminist Activist,  New Delhi

44.  Uma Shankari,  Farmer,  Researcher on Water,  Environment and Livelihoods

45. Chitra, Labia, Mumbai

46. Adv Lara Jesani,  People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL),  Maharashtra

47. Vandita Morarka, Founder/CEO, One Future Collective

48. Tara, Feminist Collective, Sonepat 

49. Saumya Malhotra, Democracy Collective , Delhi NCR

50. Arundhati Dhuru, NAPM Lucknow,U P

51. Lovika Jaiswal, Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, Noida

52. Leena Pujari, K C College, Mumbai..

53.  Vimal Bhai, National Convenor, National Alliance of People's Movements

54.  B.Girija, State Project Manager, Sakhi Telangana

55.  Meena Seshu and Aarthi Pai, Sangram, Maharashtra

56. Gita Chadha, Sociologist, Mumbai

57. Shruti Chakravarty, Mental Health Practitioner, Bombay

58. Nandita Narain, Associate Professor, St Stephen's College, Delhi University. Former President, Delhi University Teachers' Association and Federation of Central Universities Teachers' Associations

59. Mitra Mukherjee-Parikh, Former Head, Associate Professor, SNDTWU

60.  Dr. Joseph M.T., Department of Sociology, University of Mumbai, Kalina, Mumbai

61. Rukmini Banerjee, Researcher, Mumbai

62.  Kabi. S, Mumbai

63. Dr V Rukmini Rao, Executive Director Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Tarnaka, Secunderabad, Telangana

64. Karuna DW, Chennai 

65.  Padmaja Shaw 

66. Purnima Gupta, Delhi

67. Khadijah Faruqui, The Alternate Space Delhi, A Women’s Collective, New Delhi

68. Tanya Jaiswal, Modern school, Noida

69. Supriya Jain, CORO India, Mumbai

70. K Ramnarayan, Uttarakhand, India

71. Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Humans Rights Activist, Mumbai

72. Bharat, Feminist Activist, Vishakha, Jaipur 

73. Shahira Naim, Special Correspondent, The Tribune, Lucknow

74.  Aiman Khan, Bangalore

75. Varsha Mehta 

76. Roshni, Research Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences

77. Pallavi Sobti Rajpal, Ahmedabad

78. Meher Bhoot, WDC, University of Mumbai, Mumbai

79. Kusumtai Chaudhari Mahila Kalyani C/o Snehja Rupwate 

80. Anupama Potluri, Assistant Professor, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad

81.  Minakshi Sanyal, Queer feminist activist, Kolkat

82. Poushali Basak, FAOW, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

83. Anita Rego, Social Researcher

84. Smita Parmar, Social Activist, Hajipur, Bihar

85.  Swabhiman Lok Seva Sansthan run by Medical Mission Sisters 

86. Aruna Rodrigues,Environmental and Agro-ecology, Sunray Harvesters, MP

87. Subhasat 

88. Bindu Doddahatti, Advocate, Bangalore

89.  Tejaswini Madabhushi, Hyderabad for Feminism

90. A. Suneetha, Senior Fellow, Anveshi Research Center for Women’s Studies

91. Dr. Asma Rasheed, Assistant Professor, EFL University 

92. Sumitra Anukram, Founder of Anukram 

93. Madhumita Sinha, EFL University, Hyderabad 

94. Sajaya K., Independent Journalist and Social Activist, Caring Citizens Collective 

95. Khalida Parveen, General Secretary Amoomat Society 

96. Madhavi Mirapa, Scholar 

97. Uma Bhrugubanda, EFL University, Hyderabad 

98. Jayasree Subramanian, Visiting Faculty, Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education, Mumbai 

99. Aileen Marques, Advocate Mumbai

100. Pratibha Shinde, Lok Sangharsh Morcha,  Nandurbar, Maharashtra

101. Bittu K., Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression, Telangana Hijra Intersex Trans Samiti, Asawarpur, Haryana 

102. Tara Murali, Architect, Chennai

103. Padma, Human Rights Activist

104. Samar Bagchi, Educationist and Former Director, Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, Kolkata

105. Nandini Rao, Feminist Trainer and Activist, Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression,  New Delhi

106. Sandeep Pandey,  Socialist Activist and NAPM,  UP

107.  M. Mandakini, Lawyer 

108. Kondaveeti Satyavati Bhumika, Hyderabad 

109. Sherin B.S.,English and Foreign Languages University

110.  Lawrence, President, Inigo Foundation

111.  Madhurima Majumder, Assistant Professor, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development

112.  Shyamala Nataraj, South India AIDS Action Programme 

113.  Anupama J, Counselor

114.  M.Sujatha, SPERDS NGO

115.  Jayna Kothari, Senior Advocate 

116. Bindulakshmi, Mumbai

117. Suresh Melettukochy, Bhopal

118. Jai Sen, Researcher and Editor, New Delhi 

119. Shubhada Deshmukh, Mahila Arogya Parishad, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra 

120. Sana Contractor, Public Health Researcher, New Delhi

121. Nandita Gandhi, Activist, Mumbai 

122. Manisha Gupte, Feminist, MASUM, Pune

123. Madhu Madhavan, Ex. JJP Member, Current PhD student from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai 

124. Vimalbhai, Matu Jan Sangatgan, Uttarakhand 

125. Mamta Singh, Social Worker, Women Rights Activist, Lucknow, UP 

126. Rama Melkote, Prof.(Retd) or Political Science, Senior Activist, Osmania University, Hyderabad

127. S Jeevan Kumar, Human Rights Forum  

128. K Sudha, Assistant Professor, DSNLU, Member, Human Rights Forum 

129. K Anuradha, Human Rights Forum

130. Janaki Nair, JNU, New Delhi

131. Sujata Patel, Indian Institute of Advanced Study

132. Sukla Sen, Mumbai 

133. K. Kiran Mayee, Advocate

134. V. Naga Lakshmi, Advocate

135. Mohammed Shakeel, Advocate

136. Ranjana, Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression, Bhubaneswar 

137. Kalpana Karunakaran, IIT Madras 

138. Kavitha Muralidharan, Journalist, Chennai 

139. Meera Velayudhan, Policy Analyst, Kochi  

140. Prema Revati, Educationist

141. Rachana Mudraboyina, Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti

142. Saheli, Women’s Resource Center, New Delhi

143. Vasudha Katju, Researcher, New Delhi 

144. Aisha Farooqui, Prof. (Retd) Osmania University  

145. Swathy Margaret, Researcher  

146. S.  Ashalatha, Social Activist    

147. Radhika Khajuria, New Delhi  

148. Purwa Bharadwaj, Delhi  

149. Ketki Ranade, Mumbai  

150. Asha Achuthan, Mumbai  

151. Vineeta Bal, Pune.    

152. Anjali Rawat, Law Researcher  

153. Anubha Rastogi, Lawyer, Mumbai  

154. Madhu Bhushan  

155. Aatreyee Sen, Forum for Human Rights and Justice, Himachal Pradesh  

156. Pragya Joshi, PUCL, Udaipur  

157. Dr. Albertina Almeida, Advocate, Goa.  

158. Vennela Madabhushi, Lawyer, Bangalore

159. Anuradha Pati, Development Professional

160. Soma KP, Independent Research Scholar 

161. Lata Singh, JNU

162. Urmilla Chandran, Principal Technical Writer

163. Kaneez Fatima, Activist and Librarian

164. Kalyani Menon-Sen, Feminist Learning Partnerships 

165. Masooma  Ranalvi, We SpeakOut

166. Srinivas Vellikad, Senior Manager, Documentation.

167. S. Seethalakshmi, Researcher

168. Lakshmi Lingam, Professor, Mumbai

169. Sunkara Rajendra Prasad, Advocate, Vijayawada

170. Vahida Nainar, Mumbai

171. Laxmi Murthy, Journalist, Bangalore

172. Jayasree.A K., Professor, Community Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Kannur, Kerala  

173. Shaitan Singh, Law Student, Visakhapatnam  

174. Anjana Ramanathan, Advocate 

175. Piyoli Swatija, Advocate

176. VS Krishna, Human Rights Forum  

177. Smita Gupta, New Delhi  

178. Geeta Seshu, Journalist  

179. Lakshmi Krishnamurthy 

180. Reva Yunus, Azim Premji University  

181. Ritu Dewan, Vice  President at Indian Society of Labour Economics  

182. Sarojini.N, New Delhi  

183. Brinelle D'souza, TISS  

184. Deeptha Achar, Professor, Baroda  

185. Shilpaa Anand, BITS- Pilani, Hyderabad campus  

186. Shefali Jha, University of Hyderabad  

187. M.  Madhavi, Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bangalore  

188. Kumar Shubham Raj, Advocate, Bihar  

189. Bushra Quasmi, Asst Prof, DSNLU, Visakhapatnam 

190. B Syama Sundari, Dastakar Andhra  

191. Abha Bhaiya, Jagori  

192. Ambika Tandon, New Delhi  

193. Anandhi.S, Researcher, Chennai

194. Shalini Gera, Advocate, Bilaspur High Court  

195. Govind Kelkar, Senior Advisor - Women, Land & Productive Assets  

196. Sharmila Sreekumar, IIT, Bangalore  

197. PV Srividya, Journalist, Krishnagiri  

198. K.  Katyayani, Prof (Retd), Kakatitya University, Warangal  

199. Deepa V health Activist, Delhi 

200. Sunita Bandewar, Forum for Medical Ethics Society, Mumbai; Vidhayak Trust, Pune  

201. Anuradha  Kapoor, Kolkata  

202. Veena Johari, Advocate, Mumbai 

203. Mumtaz Sheikh, CORO Mahila Mandal federation Mumbai  

204. Rohini Hensman, Writer & Researcher  

205. Dr  Sagari R Ramdas, Veterinary Scientist    

206. Tashi Choedup, Buddhist Monastic, Human Rights Activist 

207. Aditi Joshi, Mumbai  

208. Amarjit Singh, Mumbai  

209. Kaveri Dadhich, Mumbai  

210. Padma, Independent Researcher , Mumbai    

211. Shakun Doundiyakhed, Ooty  

212. R.  Alphonso, Mumbai  

213. Neha Singh, Mumbai  

214. Shewli Kumar, Mumbai  

215. Bharati Kapadia, Mumbai  

216. Bindhulakshmi Pattadath, Mumbai  

217. Catrinel Dunca, Ahmedabad    

218. Nirja Vasavada, Ahmedabad  

219. Shumona  Goel  

220. Mani A., Kolkata  

221. Kamaxi Bhate, Mumbai  

222. Mridul Dudeja, Mumbai  

223. Rakhi Sehgal, Labour Activist, New Delhi 

224. Gayatri, Faculty, TISS, Hyderabad  

225. Abhiti Gupta, Legal Activist, New Delhi  

226. Maneka Khanna, Advocate, Delhi  

227. Surabhi Dhar, Advocate, Delhi  

228. Zeba Sikora, Advocate, Mumbai   

229. Rupali Samuel, Advocate, Delhi  

230. Payoshi Roy, Advocate, Mumbai   

231. Archit Krishna, Advocate, Chattisgarh  

232. Satnam Kaur, New Delhi  

233. Reethika Ravikumar, Mumbai  

234. Mini Mathew, Advocate, Mumbai 

235. Sadhna Arya, University of Delhi 

236. Fatima N, Tamil Nadu 

237. Poorva Rajaram, Researcher, New Delhi 

238. Vanessa Chishti, Jindal Law University, Sonipat  

239. Esther Moraes, New Delhi  

240. Niti Saxena, Lawyer, Researcher, and Activist, Lucknow

241. Tusharika Mattoo, Advocate, Delhi

242. Maulshree Pathak, Advocate Delhi 

243. Shreya Munoth, Advocate, Delhi

244. Sayali Kadu, Advocate, Delhi

245. Shuchi Dwivedi, Advocate, Delhi 

246. Rhea Goyal, Advocate, Delhi

247. Sowjhanya Shankaran, Advocate, Delhi

248. Anushree Malviya, Advocate, Delhi

249. Sonal Sarda, Advocate, Delhi

250. Sanya Kumar, Advocate, Delhi

251. Shreya Rastogi, Advocate, Delhi

252. Harshita Reddy, Advocate, Delhi

253. Sanjana Srikumar, Advocate, Delhi 

254. Avantika, Advocate Delhi 

255. Ninni Susan Thomas, Advocate Delhi

256. Nidhi Rao Gummuluru, Advocate, Delhi

257. Vasundhara Majithia, Advocate Delhi

258. Meghana Sengupta, Advocate Delhi 

259. Shailiza Sharma, Advocate, Delhi High Court  

260. Kanika Sood, Advocate Delhi  

261. Kruti Venkatesh, Advocate, Bombay High Court  

262. Bhavana Sunder, Advocate, Bombay High Court 

263. Rhea Jha, Advocate, Bombay High Court

264. Devyani Kulkarni, Advocate, High Court, Bombay

265. Khusboo Agarwal, Bombay

266. Sara Ahmed, Bombay

267. Surabhi Singh, Advocate, High Court at Bombay

268. Ronita Bhattacharya, Advocate, High Court, Bombay

269. Jahnavi Vishwanath, Chennai

270. Janaki Abraham, Delhi University

271. Dimple Oberoi Vahali

272. Vandana Mahajan, A Feminist Practitioner  

273. Lalita Ramdas, Educator and Citizen, Alibag, Maharashtra

274. Chitra Sinha, Centre for Gender Research, Uppsala University, Sweden

275. Vasudha Sawaiker, Social Justice Action Committee, Goa 

276. Amita Kanekar, Writer, Goa

277. Adsa Fatima, Health Activist, Delhi

278. Dr Mira Shiva  

279. Dr. Saswati Ghosh, Academic and Activist, Kolkata  

280. Amita Pitre, Consultant, Public Health and Gender Justice, Mumbai

281. Gayatri Singh, Senior Advocate, Bombay High Court

282. Bindhulakshmi, Mumbai 

283. Radhika Desai, Hyderabad 

284. Ritu Menon, New Delhi

285. Shraddha Chickerur, Hyderabad 

286. Svati Joshi, Ahmedabad  

287. Aruna  Burte, Pune

288. Malavika Karlekar, New Delhi 

289. Sujata Gothoskar, Trade Union Activist, Mumbai 

290. Nalini Nair, SEWA, Kerala 

291. Sangeeta Chatterji, FAOW 

292. Nisha, National Convenor, WSS  

293. Ajita, National Convenor, WSS  

294. Shalini, National Convenor, WSS 

295. Rinchin, National Convenor, WSS  

296. Hiranmay  Karlekar, New Delhi 

297. Rina Mukerji, Independent Journalist

298. Vibhuti Patel, Mumbai

299. Kavita Krishnan, AIPWA, New Delhi

300. Swarna Rajgopalan, Chennai 

301. Chittaroopa Palit, Madhya Pradesh

302. Bondita Acharya, Human Rights Activist, Assam 

303. Bela Bhatia, Bastar 

304. AI Sharada, Laadli, Population First

305. Amit Mitra, New Delhi

306. Sujata Mody, National Secretary, New Delhi Trade Union Initiative

307. M. Dilli, Joint Secretary, Garment and Fashion Workers Union, Chennai 

308. Anju Talukdar, Independent law and development professional, New Delhi

309. Vidha Saumya, Visual Artist, Oshiwara, Mumbai 

310. Jasveen Jairath, Consultant, Water and Ecology, Concerned Citizens, Hyderabad 

311. Shreya Suresh, Advocate, Bangalore

312. Sowmya Khandelwal, Associate at a Law Firm, Bangalore

313. M.V. Swaroop, Advocate, Madras High Court 

314. Tashi Choedip, Queer Buddhist Activist, Bodhgaga, Bihar

315. Mangla Verma, Advocate, New Delhi

316. Chitra Narayan, Advocate, Chennai

317. Anusha Ramanathan, Visiting Faculty, University of Mumbai, Consultant, TISS

318. Richa, Humsafar, Lucknow

319. Sunila Singh, Woman Human Rights Defender, New Delhi

320. Zainab, Humsafar, Lucknow

321. Afroz Jahan, Humsafar, Lucknow 

322. Anurekha, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad 

323. Lalita, National Alliance of Women’s Organizations, Odisha 

324. Sister Lissy Joseph, National Domestic Workers Movement, Hyderabad 

325. Nikhat Fatima, Journal Activist 

326. Vasundhara Vedula, Mumbai

327. Swatija Manorama, Mumbai

328. Amrita Howlader, Kolkata

329. Nazia Akhter, Hyderabad

330. Swarup Beria, Guwahati 

331. Arpita Jaya, Quill Foundation 

332. Sheela Rahulan, Vanithakalasahithi, Trivandrum 

333. Dr. Iris Koileo, Assocaite Professor (Retd.), St. Xavier’s College, Women Writers Group, Vinimaya, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala