Uphold Justice and Fairness

We are activists from women’s groups and civil society members who have engaged with issues of justice, rights, and law reforms, specifically those related to women and sexual violence. We add­ress this letter to the retired members of the higher judiciary, to appeal to you to speak up on the side of justice and fairness in the matter of the sexual harassment allegati­ons against the Chief Justice of India (CJI).

The Supreme Court has, time and again, stood by the rights of women and the marginalised, and through many landmark judgments has helped to advance and consolidate the rights of women through a transformative interpretation of the Consti­tution. Unfortunately, ­today we are facing an unprecedented crisis of credibility of the Supreme Court, as the Court, in dealing with the complaint of sexual harassment against the Chief Justice, has acted not only in utter violation of principles of natural justice but also in contravention of the Vishaka case judgment and the Sexual Harassment of the Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (henceforth, the prevention of sexual harassment act).