SC notice to Justice Swatanter Kumar on plea of ex-intern

The Supreme Court today admitted a petition of a former law intern alleging sexual harassment against its retired judge Swatanter Kumar, who, along with the Centre, was issued notice on her plea for setting up of a mechanism to deal with such cases at work place in judiciary.

The petition also sought an inquiry on her allegation against Justice Kumar.

A bench three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam, however, made it clear that at this moment it was not expressing any opinion on the allegations made by the intern against Justice Kumar.

"On going through various prayers made, particularly in the light of the assertion made with reference to prayer (d) of the writ petition, that 'as on date there is no mechanism to enquire into the complaints of sexual harassment against all judicial officers, sitting or retired judges, whether while holding office or not', we are inclined to consider these aspects.

"Accordingly, we issue notice to the respondent Nos.1 to 3, returnable on 14th February, 2014," the bench, also comprising justices Ranjan Gogoi and S K Singh, said .

It also issued notice to Secretary General of the apex court.

While dictating the order in open court, the bench appointed senior advocates Fali S Nariman and K K Venugopal as amicus curiae in the case but the order later named senior advocates Nariman and P P Rao as amicus curie.