Today, a bunch of Leftist portals published a story about a woman levelling allegations of sexual harassment against the Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi. In response, Justice Gogoi convened a bench and responded to these allegations. Other than saying that this is a ‘larger plot to destabilise the Judiciary’ and that when ‘they’ couldn’t catch him on the money they are resorting to this, CJI Gogoi also said that this is a pressure tactic to dissuade him from hearing important cases that are up for hearing next week.
CJI says he was to hear important cases next week and hence this attempt to dissuade him from hearing the important matters
— Dhananjay Mahapatra (@toi_dhanajayM) April 20, 2019
After the bench was commenced, CJI made several statements alleging how this was a pressure tactic and the sanctity of the Judiciary was being compromised. AG Venugopalan too said that he was being attacked as an officer of the court for defending the government and CJI Gogoi said that there were only two independent offices in the country, of the PMO and CJI.
CJI Gogoi also made a startling revelation while commenting on the allegations of sexual harassment. He said that next week, he is to hear important cases and these allegations were to dissuade him into hearing those matters.
Incidentally, there are three important matter pertaining to the ongoing 2019 Lok Sabha elections which are up for hearing next week.
Case 1: Contempt hearing against Rahul Gandhi
A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi on Monday issued a notice to Congress President Rahul Gandhi and sought an explanation from him for his comments after the Supreme Court verdict on Rafale.
Rahul Gandhi had distorted the SC order while talking to the media, and said that Supreme Court has accepted that there is some form of corruption in Rafale deal and that “chowkidaar ne chori karwayi hai”. The Supreme Court observed that it had on “no occasion” made any comments as attributed by Gandhi and that the judgment was solely on the legal question of admissibility of documents produced by review petitioners. The top court has asked Rahul Gandhi to reply by April 22 which happens to be next week.
The contempt petition against Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has been filed by BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi over his ‘Chowkidar chor hai’ remarks against PM Modi after the Supreme Court order on Rafale.
Case 2: The release of Vivek Oberoi starrer biopic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi
While the Supreme Court had refused to interfere in the release of the Vivek Oberoi starrer biopic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Election Commission had put a stay on the release until the 2019 Lok Sabha elections concluded saying that its release may hamper the equal playing field that political parties should get.
Acting on the complaints of political parties, including the Congress, the poll panel had asserted that any biopic material with the potential to disturb the level-playing field should not be displayed in areas where the model code of conduct was in force.
On April 15th, the Supreme Court had asked the Election Commission to watch the movie fully and submit their report to the Supreme Court by 19th April.
The Supreme Court Bench led by CJI Gogoi is all set to hear the matter and probably deliver a verdict on April 22nd, the same day as Rahul Gandhi contempt petition.
Case 3: Tamil Nadu elections and bribes paid to voters
The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought the Election Commission (EC)’s response on a petition alleging largescale bribing of voters in all the Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu.
The petitioner alleged that every voter in these constituencies has been paid around Rs 5,000. He pleaded before the court that the poll panel be directed to postpone the parliamentary elections in the state. The petition also cited Rs 11.5 crore cash from a cement godown in Vellore district by the IT Department on Monday. “So far, Rs 78.12 crore cash has been seized in the state,” the petition pointed out.
