SC forms sexual harassment committee for women lawyers

The Supreme Court on Wednesday approved a sexual harassment committee to redress the grievances of women advocates who are stalked or face any unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature by their male counterparts inside the court complex.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday approved a sexual harassment committee to redress the grievances of women advocates who are stalked or face any unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature by their male counterparts inside the court complex.

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A bench headed by Chief Justice Altamas Kabir even cleared the rules framed for the implementation of the SC guidelines on the issue. This comes 15 years after the Vishaka judgment that set guidelines to deal with sexual harassment cases at workplace. These continue to be adopted in the absence of a law.

According to this, a woman can complain to the SC Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee if her male colleague subjects her to any form of sexual harassment, especially while withholding career advancements whether explicitly or implicitly or as an incentive. The victim can even approach the committee if there is an implied or explicit threat to her legal career if she refuses to accede to the demands by her senior male colleague.