'Permit me to die': UP woman judge alleges sexual harassment; CJI seeks report

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• Dec 16, 2023 | Dhupali Das

Female UP judge seeks permission to 'end life' over sexual harassment by senior district judge...

Digital Desk: The Supreme Court has received a comprehensive report from the Allahabad High Court regarding the status of complaints filed by a woman judicial officer who made grave allegations of sexual harassment against a district judge in Uttar Pradesh. The report arrived on Friday, according to sources within the Supreme Court, but is yet to undergo processing.

This development follows the Supreme Court's refusal on December 13 to entertain a plea filed by the complainant. The Court noted that the internal complaints committee handling the matter was actively engaged, having already passed a resolution pending approval from the High Court Chief Justice. Subsequently, the aggrieved civil judge penned an open letter to Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, expressing a desire to end her life.

In response to this distressing communication, the Chief Justice took swift action, instructing the Supreme Court Registry to solicit a detailed report from the Allahabad High Court regarding the status of the ongoing complaints.

The two-page letter from the complainant shed light on harrowing experiences, detailing instances of alleged sexual harassment by a superior during her previous posting six months ago. In poignant words, she expressed a profound loss of hope in receiving a fair inquiry or justice. The letter, which circulated widely on social media, highlighted her disillusionment with a system she entered with enthusiasm and a commitment to justice.

She articulated, "I have been sexually harassed to the very limit... I have been treated like utter garbage." Narrating her ordeal, she disclosed feeling like an unwanted and neglected entity within the judicial framework. The aggrieved officer claimed to have attempted suicide previously and lamented the emptiness and purposelessness she perceives in her existence.

Expressing her desperation for a dignified exit, she appealed to the Chief Justice for permission to end her life, stating, "There is no purpose left in my life. Kindly permit me to end my life in a dignified way. Let my life be dismissed."

The Supreme Court awaits further deliberation following the reception of the report from the Allahabad High Court. This distressing episode underscores the urgent need to address issues of workplace harassment and ensure a conducive environment for all within the judicial system.