NUJS Intern requests media to respect her Privacy

NUJS intern, who alleged sexual harassment against a retired Judge,has requested the media to stop speculating on her communications with the Committee, and continue to respect her privacy.

She wrote in NUJS blog as follows;

On the 12^th of November 2013, the Chief Justice of India set up a three-member Committee to look into a matter of sexual harassment that I had faced by a former Supreme Court Judge.

As requested by the Committee, I appeared before them on the 18^th of November. During the meeting, I presented all the details of the case to the Committee. I am confident that the Committee will follow all the different lines of enquiry, and will establish the truth of my statements.

The Committee has assured me complete confidentiality. Some media reports are violating the confidentiality of testimony given by the Committee. They have been distorting facts, and misreporting my statements. Such pernicious and mala fide reporting must cease immediately. I would like to request the media to stop speculating on my communications with the Committee, and continue to respect my privacy.

Earlier Hindu [http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/law-intern-not-for-pursuing-charge/article5365253.ece] reported that she is not interested in pursuing the matter further.

The report says

“According to highly placed legal sources, the intern, without naming the judge, appears to have given this information to the committee comprising Justices R.M. Lodha, H.L. Dattu and Ms. Ranjana Desai during her two-hour deposition at the Supreme Court premises on Monday.

When confronted by the committee about the reason for her highlighting the alleged sexual harassment incident involving the judge concerned in her blog, she is reported to have told the panel members that her intention was to inform the public that such things do happen in high places. She made it clear to the panel that she was not inclined to take up the matter legally; and that her intention was to create awareness. She will depose again on November 20. ”

Though the Committee asked her to appear yesterday, she didn’t turn up.