Tripura High Court transfers civil judge accused of sexually harassing rape survivor in his chamber

The Tripura High Court has transferred a civil judge in Kamalpur, judge Biswatosh Dhar after he was accused of sexually assaulting a rape survivor in his chamber..A notification issued by the High Court dated February 23 said that the accused judicial officer is being transferred to the High Court and would be kept on compulsory waiting for future posting."Sri Biswatosh Dhar, Civil Judge (Jr. Div.)- cum-Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kamalpur, Dhalai District is hereby transferred to the High Court and is kept on compulsory waiting for future posting," the notification said.The notification added that the charge of the civil judge at Kamalpur (first class judicial magistrate) would be given to another judge until further orders. "The charge of the Court and Office of the Civil Judge (Jr. Div.)-cum-Judicial Magistrate First Class, Kamalpur, Dhalai District shall remain with Smt. Madhumita Biswas, Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate-cum-Civil Judge (Jr. Div.), Kamalpur, Dhalai District until further order," the notification read.The accused judge, judge Dhar was directed to report to the High Court immediately..According to an NDTV report, the woman claimed that on February 16, she was groped by the first-class judicial magistrate when she visited his chamber to have a statement recorded regarding her rape case.In her complaint to the additional district and sessions judge in Kamalpur, Dhalai district, the woman had reportedly said,"I went to the chamber of the first class judicial magistrate to get my statement recorded on February 16. When I was about to give my statement, the judge groped me. I rushed out of his chamber and informed the lawyers and my husband about the incident." The woman's husband is also said to have filed a separate complaint with the Kamalpur Bar Association regarding the incident..Subsequently, a three-member panel led by district and sessions judge, Gautam Sarkar commenced an investigation into the allegations..[Read Notification]