Woman magistrate alleges sexual harassment by lawyer

New Delhi: A woman magistrate at a traffic court in the city has alleged that she was sexually harassed by a lawyer inside the courtroom during a hearing of a case, police said on Thursday.

The incident took place on October 30 and was reported to the police the next day.

A case was registered under Sections 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions), 169 (public servant unlawfully buying or bidding for property), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his/her duty), 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of IPC, said police.

The accused lawyer has not been arrested yet. In her complaint, the magistrate told the police that the lawyer had used abusive language in the court. His behaviour compelled the magistrate to adjourn the court. And when she did so, the lawyer continued using allegedly filthy and abusive language addressing her, she said.

An FIR was registered based on the woman's complaint at Farsh Bazar police station in East Delhi, said police.

On October 30, the advocate had appeared before the magistrate in connection with a vehicle impound case in a drunken driving matter and moved a plea to release it.

"The court imposed a fine on my client while disposing off the application and the vehicle-owner sought 30 minutes' time to deposit the entire amount," said the accused advocate.

"Later, when the owner returned with the money, the magistrate returned the challan and asked my client to deposit it the next day, which was opposed by me," said the advocate.

"I told her that she should follow the due process of law and an argument took place and she rudely asked me and my client to leave the court. "

"The same day at 4pm, I gave my complaint to the district judge and the bar association against the behaviour of the magistrate and when she came to know about it, she lodged a false case against against me with the police the next morning," the advocate claimed.