It’s Time Of Stand Up With Judiciary, Arun Jaitley On Sexual Harassment Allegations Against CJI Ranjan Gogoi

A day after the charges of sexual harassment against Chief Justice of India Justice Ranjan Gogoi surfaced, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday said stressed the need to “stand up with judiciary. “The incident of a junior ex-lady employee of the Supreme Court making harassment charges against the Chief Justice of India has acquired a disproportionate magnitude.

When the complainant distributes copies of her representation to other Judges of the Supreme Court and the media in order to sensationalise her allegations, it ceases to be routine,” Finance Minister Jaitley said in a blog titled “It’s Time to Stand up With the Judiciary.”

“When four digital media organisations with an unparalleled track record of ‘institutional disruption’ send similar questionnaires to the Chief Justice of India, there is obviously something more than what meets the eye,” Jaitley said. Terming CJI Ranjan Gogoi as well-regarded in terms of personal decency, values, ethics, and integrity, Jaitley said: “Even when critics disagree with his judicial view, his value system has never been questioned.”

“Lending shoulder to completely unverified allegations coming from a disgruntled person with a not-so-glorious track record is aiding the process of destabilisation of the institution of the Chief Justice of India,” the Finance Minister said. Hitting out at “institutional destabilisers,” the Finance Minister said, “The last few years have witnessed the consolidation of ‘institution destabilisers’ in a major way.

Many of these destabilizers represent Left or ultra-Left views. They have no electoral base or popular support.” Jaitley claimed that they have taken refuge in digital and social media after being ousted from the mainstream. “They continue to believe in the old Marxian philosophy of ‘wrecking the system from within.’

They use free speech to destroy the judicial institution,” said the Finance Minister. The Union Minister also alleged that “this section” exploits the judicial refrain of excessively using the power of contempt. “They go public against individual judges, including the Chief Justice, when they fail to get a favourable order.

They carry on social media campaigns against judges who write judgments adverse to them,” the Union Minister alleged. “They have little regard for truth but masquerade as protectors of public interest. Their behaviour in courts is offensive both to the Bench and their opponents. They threaten walkouts if judges are in disagreement,” he said.

The Minister said that it is “regrettable” that a section of the Members of the Bar affiliated to the Congress party tends to join them. “Frequent attempts are made to get some Parliamentarians to sign Motion of Impeachment against judges and even the Chief Justice on unsustainable grounds. What has always puzzled me is the Congress lending support to such fringe campaigns,” he said.

Insisting that India has witnessed a series of attacks by the ‘institution disruptors’ against judges who are unwilling to agree with them, the Finance Minister said: “It may not be an exaggeration to say that today both in court and by creating an environment outside, a mass-intimidation of Judges is on.”
Inputs from Freepressjournal