On May 6, an in-house committee probing sexual harassment allegation by an ex-employee of the Supreme Court against the Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, reached a conclusion that few found surprising even when most felt it was a failure of the justice system. Gogoi was not just given a clean chit, but the committee also said it was not liable to make their findings public.
As an expression of solidarity towards the victim, a protest was organised on May 7 at the apex court. Many arrived at Delhi’s Bhagwan Das Road to demonstrate against what they called “Supreme Injustice”.
"Be you ever so high, the law is above you." pic.twitter.com/zG7fcuVdv6
— Rohan Venkat (@RohanV) May 7, 2019
Lawyers & women rights activists gathering to protest peacefully outside Supreme Court against the “no substance” finding of the Justice Bobde inhouse committee that was looking into sexual harassment allegations against CJI Gogoi & their decision not to make their report public. pic.twitter.com/fmC66GbP5X
— The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) May 7, 2019
https://twitter.com/so_radhikal/status/1125633614278828033
Also read: Sexual Harassment Case: SC In-house Committee Clears CJI Gogoi, Won’t Make Report Public
This peaceful gathering, however, was soon interrupted by the police. As per the live updates of many protestors at the scene, cops started rounding them up into police vans.
Many of the protesters were bundled into police vans and driven away from the protest site. pic.twitter.com/Mhq5QdnmIl
— The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) May 7, 2019
#RanjanGogoi #SupremeInjustice #SupremeCourt
Protesters bundled into police vans. pic.twitter.com/spZB2DIIoW
— The Leaflet (@TheLeaflet_in) May 7, 2019
Protestors started sharing photos and videos from inside police vans. Some even claimed that they were not allowed to protest even for five minutes.
https://twitter.com/amritananda_c/status/1125633471794167809
Lawyer Shreya Munoth is among those picked up by the police.
https://twitter.com/shreyamunot/status/1125633000056602624
https://twitter.com/marculenta/status/1125632863964094464
Amrita Johri of the Satark Nagrik Sangathan tweeted, “All of us picked up from outside the Supreme Court while protesting against the bogus clean chit given to CJI. No external member in committee, report not public, the complainant not allowed lawyer, ex-parte report,” asking, “Are judges above the law?”
All of us picked up from outside the Supreme Court while protesting against the bogus clean chit given to CJI. No external member in committee, report not public, complainant not allowed lawyer, ex-partee report. Are judges above the law? #SupremeInjustice @pbhushan1 @AnjaliB_ pic.twitter.com/vGJWfSmBV1
— Amrita Johri (@johriamrita) May 7, 2019
Vani Subramanian speaks about why there's a protest against #CJIRanjanGogoi and is currently in a police truck with other members of the #SupremeInjustice protest. pic.twitter.com/5AAeqxFfY8
— The Wire (@thewire_in) May 7, 2019
#SupremeInjustice this is how scared they are. Using state power to muzzle women's voices. #CJIRanjanGogoi pic.twitter.com/U2YBGj1s9p
— Chayanika (she/her) (@chayanikashah) May 7, 2019
The words of the victim ring loud in the aftermath of this short-lived protest: “Today, my worst fears have come true, and all hope of justice and redress from the highest Court of the land have been shattered.”
The complainant had withdrawn from the in-house committee probe, after she was told that the proceedings were “informal” and not under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013. Additionally, the three-judge panel had also denied the complainant’s request for a lawyer.