New Delhi, Feb 26 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday turned down the plea filed by a former district judge from Madhya Pradesh facing disciplinary proceedings in a sexual harassment case, observing it cannot allow sexual harassment cases to be brushed under the carpet.

The bench headed by Chief Justice SA Bobde was hearing the petition filed by the retired district judge Shambhoo Singh Raghuvanshi challenging proceedings against him initiated by the Madhya Pradesh High Court over the sexual harassment allegations made by a junior judicial officer.

The bench also comprising Justices Bopanna and Ramasubramanian after asking the petitioner to withdraw the plea, however, granted him the liberty to appear before the inquiry.

Notably, the junior judicial officer had withdrawn her complaint under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act).

His counsel pleaded that Singh had already admitted that he had sent the WhatsApp messages and that such conduct would make the atmosphere inconducive for judicial work.

The sexual harassment complaint against Singh was lodged in 2018.

UNI JW SHK1958