Allahabad CJ's appointment to head inquiry in MP judge sexual harassment case welcomed

Allahabad Chief Justice Dhananjai Chandrachud will head an inquiry panel of three judges against Justice S. Gangele who is accused of sexual harassment of Additional District Judge from Gwalior Ms. Sangeeta Madan, reports the India Legal magazine.

In the middle of 2014, Additional District Judge Madan had quit her job, saying that she found it too humiliating to continue.

In a letter to the then Chief Justice of India R M Lodha, she detailed out the harassment she had faced by Justice Gangele for a long time.

She said that on one occasion, he had sent a request asking her to dance to an item song at a ladies sangeet on December 10th, 2013 on his 25th marriage anniversary. This was one among the many instances she stated in her letter.

On August 6, 2014, Pravin Parekh, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association, wrote to Justice Lodha, saying that the Association had passed a resolution that the serious matter must be urgently looked into.

Justice Mukul Mudgal told India Legal: "The appointment of Justice Chandrachud is not only an apt choice, but a step in the right direction. It was something that had to be done. It will restore public confidence as it will be clear that the judiciary is not sweeping anything under the carpet.