The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Centre on the plea of a former intern seeking setting up of a permanent mechanism in judicial bodies to address complains of sexual harassment at workplace.

The apex court has made it clear that it is not expressing any opinion on the allegations made by the intern against Justice Swantanter Kumar. It has raised question on why the intern has come with the allegations so late.

The Court has appointed senior advocates Fali S Nariman and K K Venugopal as amicus curiae to assist it in the case.

Meanwhile, former Supreme Court Judge and National Green Tribunal Chairperson Swatanter Kumar today moved the Delhi High Court seeking to restrain the media from reporting the alleged sexual assault case of his former woman law intern. Justice Kumar has also sought a whopping five crore rupees as damages from two English news channels and a leading English daily for defaming him in the case.

A battery of senior lawyers, including Maninder Singh and N K Kaul, mentioned the civil suit before Justice G S Sistani at 10.30 AM and sought an urgent hearing of the petition. Justice Sistani, who is in-charge Judge of civil suits filed in the High Court, ordered hearing of the petition today itself.

According to the intern, the alleged harassment took place in May 2012 when he was a sitting judge of the apex court.