The hindu, the indian express, deccan chronicle and the tribune publish strong editorials on #ranjangogoi

A former staffer at the Supreme Court of India accused the Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi, of sexual harassment and sent a signed affidavit detailing the entire incident to 22 sitting

SC judges on Saturday last week. Subsequently, the CJI held a special session of the court along with Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Sanjiv Khanna where he dismissed the allegation against

him and claimed that the independence of the judiciary is under threat. While the story hasn’t received adequate play in mainstream television news channels, some newspapers have published

strong editorials demanding a fair probe into the allegations. _The Hindu_ in its editorial said it was “a textbook example of how not to deal with such a complaint” and “pronouncements and

protestations from the Bench to a captive audience of acquiescent law officers and lawyers are not the way”.  It called this special session a deplorable practice to question the credibility

of the complainant and make references about her alleged criminal record when she was not a party to the proceedings. _The_ _Tribune_ in its editorial said that “due process of law,

upholding the highest principles of probity, should be followed by the CJI by not getting involved in his own case. And if the allegations are found to be false, the attempt to malign the

CJI must be dealt with strictly.” _Deccan_ _Chronicle_ stated, “the CJI straightaway breached one cardinal legal principle: you can’t be a judge in your own cause and his participation in

the proceedings betrays the fact that justice is, prima facie, not seen to be done.” It also said that “ he doesn’t seem to have acted in a way that would convince anyone that he had

instituted the right measures to handle the sexual harassment complaint against him.” _The_ _Indian_ _Express_ in its editorial said, “the complaint tests the integrity of the entire

institution.” It notes that while the questions posed by the CJI regarding the institution should raise alarm bells, the complainant’s right to be heard shouldn’t be brushed aside by anger

or piety.  “Justice Gogoi’s warning of a plot needs elaboration. So does the complaint that details dates and names and records — each can and should be probed. How, that’s for the court to

decide.”