Chennai: Disgusting but true, a judge in Tamil Nadu sent a memo to a court employee threatening her of disciplinary action as the latter refused to wash innerwear piled up in his house.

However, the judge refusing to budge down to criticism has justified his move by stating that office assistants are “meant for menial work”.

A subordinate judge in Erode, Justice Selvam forced his 47-year-old office assistant to apologise in writing and assure that she would not repeat her “lapse”.

The memo, dated February 1 reads: “Please explain within 7 days why disciplinary action should not be initiated against you for your failure to wash the innerwear which were put for washing in the sub-judge’s house, and for throwing them away disgustingly, and when your attitude was questioned by the officer and his wife for retorting in an arrogant tone,” the note said.

Those close to the woman say the lady, who is a mother of two daughters and the only earning member of the family was hired as an assistant at the court but was forced to sweep, wash, cook and serve at the judge’s home.

Many say that the lady is verbally abused by the judge’s wife.

Justice Selvam is quoted in NDTV saying that he has done nothing wrong.

“She is an Officer’s Assistant appointed to do menial work. I had given only my vest and not underwear. It’s clearly given in the Judicial Officers’ Association guidelines,” he said.