New Delhi, July 21
The Supreme Court today issued a notice to Justice Swatanter Kumar on a plea by a woman lawyer seeking transfer of a defamation case against her from the Delhi High Court.

Justice Kumar, who is Chairman of the National Green Tribunal (NGT), has filed the case in the HC seeking at least Rs 5 crore each as damages from the lawyer and three media groups for attempting to sully his image and reputation by levelling false allegations of sexually harassing her in May 2011 when he was a judge of the apex court and she was interning with him.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice RM Lodha sought Justice Kumar’s response to the transfer plea within four weeks. Justices Kurian Joseph and RF Nariman were the other members of the Bench. Arguing for the alleged victim, senior advocate Indira Jaisingh said her client was working for a non-governmental organisation (NGO) in Bangalore and as such was a person with “no resource.”

On the other hand, Justice Kumar had a battery of senior advocates to argue his case in the HC. Her client had a “reasonable apprehension” that she would not get justice if the case was heard in Delhi, Jaisingh contended.

Appearing for Justice Kumar, advocate KK Venugopal said the alleged victim had also hired senior advocates, including Harish Salve. At this, the Bench said: “These are insignificant aspects. The significant factor is something else. We want to have the people’s confidence in the judiciary. — TNS