After panel probe, CJI bars lawyer from SC precincts for 6 months

A circular issued by the SC Registrar said an inquiry was conducted against the advocate by the Supreme Court Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee.

In its first penal order after formation of a sexual harassment committee, the Supreme Court Tuesday debarred entry of a lawyer into the court precincts for six months after an inquiry held him guilty.

A circular issued by the SC Registrar said an inquiry was conducted against the advocate by the Supreme Court Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee and a report with its recommendations was submitted by its internal committee to Chief Justice of India P Sathasivam.

The CJI, after considering the report, said: “I am of the view that, in the first instance, six months’ bar on entry into the Supreme Court precincts would suffice, considering the fact that, except the instant case, no other incident of this nature relating to Nagesh has been reported.” The order stated that the penalty “would not only allow him to redeem himself but also would operate as a deterrent against him”.

The panel was constituted in November “with an object to fulfil the function of sensitising the public on gender issues and to address complaints made with regard to sexual harassment in the precincts of the Supreme Court”.

It is headed by Justice Ranjana Prakash Desai and has six other members. There are two members who are outsiders and not connected with the apex court in any manner.

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