Sexual harassment allegation against Ex-Supreme Court judge serious: Veerappa Moily

Allegation against former Supreme Court judge, who is currently heading a tribunal, was on Saturday described as "serious" by a senior Union Minister.

M Veerappa Moily, Minister for Environment and Petroleum and Natural Gas, who has held Law portfolio earlier, said it was up to the Supreme Court to decide whether or not to have an inquiry into the allegations.

"What I read from newspapers... it is a serious allegation," Moily told PTI when asked about sexual harassment charges levelled by a law intern against the former SC judge.

Moily, however, said he could not say any further unless any formal complaint is made.

A law intern has alleged that the accused had sexually harassed her in May 2011 2011 in his office when he was a sitting judge of the apex court.

Noting that the alleged incident had taken place sometime when the accused was a Supreme Court judge, Moily said it was upto the apex court to decide on whether to have a probe into the allegations.

"It is a matter for the judiciary to decide.... I think it is their duty," the minister added.