High Court Orders Probe into Sexual Harassment Allegations Against Judge

In a significant development, the High Court has ordered an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment against a judicial officer following complaints from multiple women. According to a report by The Hindu, the administrative committee of the High Court has directed an inquiry into the conduct of Kollam Chavara Family Court Judge V. Udayakumar. The investigation stems from three complaints lodged against him, prompting the High Court to instruct its Registrar (District Judiciary) to conduct a thorough probe and submit a report. The administrative committee is scheduled to review this report on Tuesday.

The initial action was triggered by a written complaint from a woman submitted to the Kollam Principal District Judge, alleging that the harassment occurred within the judge’s chambers. In response to administrative concerns, Judge Udayakumar was transferred on August 20 to the Kollam Motor Accidents Claims Tribunal, with directives to refrain from judicial duties until further orders are issued.

This incident marks the second instance in the past six months where similar allegations have been raised against judicial officers in the state. Previously, a judge from Kozhikode district, who faced comparable accusations, was reinstated after a six-month suspension following an investigation led by High Court Judge Shobha Annamma Koshy. However, the lack of formal complaints filed by the affected woman with the police or the Internal Complaints Committee has reportedly hindered the investigation process. This delay has also sparked public protests among a section of court staff, who have expressed frustration over the authorities’ inaction.

Meanwhile, India has strongly condemned a related decision, describing it as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” and has vowed to take all necessary measures to safeguard its national interests. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that several other nations are undertaking similar actions to protect their own interests, expressing dismay at being singled out in this matter.