Explainer: Mechanisms to investigate charges against a Supreme Court judge
Distilled Policy Brief
- The Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee (GSICC) is constituted by the CJI with 7-13 members, where the majority must be women, to address sexual harassment complaints within the Supreme Court.
🎯 Prelims High-Yield Examination Points
Article 124(4) governs the removal of Supreme Court judges based on a motion in either House of Parliament backed by 100 Lok Sabha or 50 Rajya Sabha members under the Judges Inquiry Act, 1968.
⚖️ Mains Analytical & Syllabus Linkages
Evaluate the efficacy of internal accountability mechanisms versus parliamentary removal processes in safeguarding the independence and integrity of the judiciary in India.
🎯 UPSC Prelims Practice Drill
With reference to the mechanisms to investigate charges and complaints against a Supreme Court judge in India, consider the following statements regarding the Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee (GSICC): 1. The GSICC is constituted by the Chief Justice of India under regulations framed for the protection of women against sexual harassment in the Supreme Court. 2. The committee must consist of 7 to 13 members, with a mandatory requirement that the majority of the members are women. 3. It can include up to two outside members having experience in fields such as social justice and women's empowerment. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- [A] 1 and 2 only
- [B] 2 and 3 only
- [C] 1 and 3 only
- [D] 1, 2 and 3
▶ Reveal Official Answer & Analytical Explanation
All the statements regarding the GSICC are correct. The committee is constituted by the CJI under the Supreme Court regulations framed for the protection of women against sexual harassment. It comprises 7 to 13 members, requires a majority of women members, and can include up to two outside members experienced in social justice and gender justice.
🏛️ Historical Twin PYQ Anchor (2021)
Consider the following statements regarding the "National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)": 1. It is implemented by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. 2. Central Pollution Control Board acts as the sole regulatory executive body.