Section 144 has been imposed outside the Supreme Court following protest over an in-house panel's clean chit to Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi, in a sexual harassment case.

A group of woman activists, including lawyers, took part in the protest that began on Tuesday morning.

A few journalists who went to cover the proceedings were detained by police personnel -- who were later released.

Over 30 women activists were also detained by the police at Mandir Marg Police Station, Delhi.

Security has also been increased outside the top court’s premises.

CJI Ranjan Gogoi got a clean chit from the Supreme Court's in-house enquiry committee which "found no substance" in the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against him by a former woman employee of the apex court.

The three-member Committee, which completed its task in 14 days, proceeded ex-parte as the woman had opted out of the inquiry on April 30 after participating for three days.

Immediately after the office of apex court's Secretary General came out with the findings of the committee, the woman issued a press statement saying that she was "highly disappointed and dejected".

She said "gross injustice" has been done to her as a woman citizen of India and "worst fears" have come true, and all hope of justice and redress from the highest Court of the land have been shattered.

She said she would consult her lawyer and decide on the next steps.

A notice by the office of Supreme Court Secretary General said the report of the Committee, headed by Justice S A Bobde, "is not liable to be made public".

After the CJI, Justice Bobde is the next senior most judge, followed by Justices N V Ramana, Arun Mishra and R F Nariman.

On April 25, Justice Ramana recused himself after the complainant expressed her reservations over his inclusion on the ground that he was a close friend of the CJI and a regular visitor to his house.

In Justice Ramana's place, Justice Bobde had inducted Justice Malhotra as she had also alleged that the Committee was not formed in accordance with the Vishaka guidelines laid by the top court.

In a letter to Justice Bobde, the woman had said that as per the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the Vishaka judgement, for holding inquiry into the allegations of sexual harassment at work place, the committee must have a majority of women.

THE CASE

The allegations against the CJI had become public on April 20 when some news web portals had come out with the stories.

The woman had sent her affidavit to 22 judges of the apex court about the alleged sexual harassment.

Within hours of the allegations coming into public domain, an unprecedented hearing by a bench comprising CJI and Justices Mishra and Sanjiv Khanna had taken place on April 20 which was Saturday.

Though the CJI had recused himself midway of the hearing, he had described the allegations against him as "unbelievable" and had said a larger conspiracy was behind it and he would not stoop so low even to deny these allegations.

Later, a fresh bench comprising Justices Mishra, R F Nariman and Deepak Gupta was set up to hear the matter which appointed retired apex court judge, Justice A K Patnaik to inquire into the allegations of larger conspiracy to frame CJI Gogi and fixing of benches in the top court.

The allegation was made by a advocate Utsav Singh Bains who had filed an affidavit in this regard.

The matter was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench comprising Justices S A Bobde and S A Nazeer by advocate M L Sharma, who claimed that there was a conspiracy to malign the CJI in a "concocted, false sexual harassment" case.

(With inputs from agencies)