New Delhi: The Supreme Court Thursday ordered a probe by former judge of the court Justice AK Patnaik into allegations about conspiracy against Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi who has been accused of sexual harassment by a woman.
The top court directed the directors of the CBI and the Intelligence Bureau (IB) besides the Delhi Police Commissioner to cooperate with Justice Patnaik as and when required.
The court gave the directions during a hearing on an affidavit filed by advocate Utsav Bains, who has alleged a conspiracy against the Chief Justice after a former Supreme Court staffer alleged sexual harassment.
Justice Patnaik, after completing his probe, shall file the report before the bench in a sealed cover, the top court said.
While ordering the inquiry, the court said Bains would be bound to disclose all documents. Earlier, Bains had claimed he had sensitive information that cannot be disclosed.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising, while speaking to reporters said the Chief Justice cannot be the master of the roster anymore and that his administrative and judicial work should be suspended till the sexual harassment allegations against him are looked into.
She said all former staffers of the SC are witnesses in the case and questioned how the Chief Justice, being their ex-boss, could continue in this scenario.
Earlier, during the hearing by a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra, Jaising asked the court to probe the credentials of Utsav Bains, saying people who come to court, must come with clean hands.
She said the bench is heavily consumed in probing the defence of the Chief Justice who is facing allegations of sexual harassment. She said such influence on the investigation would prejudice the complaint by the former staffer against the Chief Justice. The bench assured her that the investigation would be independent.
