Gwalior judge sexual harassment case: SC issues notice to cornered MP high court judge

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to a judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in connection with a sexual harassment complaint lodged against him by a Gwalior woman judge.

In its ruling, the apex court stayed the inquiry committee set up by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.

The woman judge had moved to the Supreme Court asking the Chief Justice of India to appoint a committee with three members to explore her allegations.

The woman judge had resigned last month alleging that a judge at the Madhya Pradesh High Court had repeatedly harassed her, asked her to dance to a Bollywood song at his home, and transferred her to a remote court when she refused his advances.

On the instructions of the Chief Justice of India, the senior most judge in Madhya Pradesh had formed a panel to investigate her charges. But the woman judge says that the Chief Justice of Madhya Pradesh is biased against her, and must not be part of any inquiry.

The woman judge said she would like to be reinstated, and that the judge whom she has accused of harassment should not be assigned any cases while the enquiry against him is on.

However, the High Court judge has, in a letter to the Chief Justice of India last month, strongly refuted the charges against him and said he was willing to accept "the death penalty" if found guilty.