'Whistling doesn't mean sexual harassment'

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would consider framing a policy on sexual harassment at higher educational institutions.

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would consider framing a policy on sexual harassment at higher educational institutions.

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A bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan directed the petitioner Medha Kotwal, social activist from Maharashtra, to submit suggestions regarding the policy.

The bench asked senior advocate Colin Gonsalves appearing for the petitioner to specify how sexual harassment should be defined. “Whistling cannot be categorised as sexual harassment,” said the CJI, adding: “This is part of college life.” He also declined to entertain the petitioner’s plea to have a police probe in cases involving sexual harassment.

Asking Kotwal to concentrate on educational institutions, the bench said her suggestions to deal with sexual harassment of a student should be different from that of a college employee.

“The two cannot be covered by a common policy,” the bench added.

Kotwal had approached Supreme Court seeking its direction to categorise sexual harassment and also order police probe in such cases.