CJI-led bench set up to hear sexual harassment allegations against him, order by 2 other judges

A three-judge special bench headed by Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi was hurriedly constituted in the Supreme Court Saturday to deal with allegations of sexual harassment against the CJI, but as the hearing progressed, he opted out midway from passing any judicial order.

The CJI, against whom a former apex court staff levelled the allegations, left it to justices Arun Mishra and Sanjiv Khanna to take a call on the issue of passing judicial order.

"I am not going to be a part of the judicial order. Justice Arun Mishra is the senior most judge available in Delhi and he will dictate the order," the CJI orally said during the hearing.

In the nearly half-an-hour proceedings, CJI Gogoi made several remarks.

The notice issued by the apex court registry, that became public around 10:15 AM said, "Take note that a special bench consisting of the Chief Justice of India, Justices Arun Mishra and Sanjiv Khanna is being constituted to have a special sitting at 10:30 AM. Today, i.e. the 20th April, 2019 in the Chief Justice's Court to deal with a matter of great public importance touching upon the independence of judiciary, on a mention being made by Tushar Mehta, Solicitor General."