Act against sexual harassment of women: Court tells states

Noting that women continued to be harassed at work places, the Supreme Court on Friday ordered state governments to set up complaint committees and implement laws to tackle such incidents.

A bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said enough was not done to uplift the condition of women and directed governments to implement the guidelines framed in the Vishaka case within two months.

The apex court in 1997 had framed guidelines to handle cases of sexual harassment at the workplace in government departments and PSUs.

According to the guidelines, it was the duty of the employer or other responsible persons in work places and other institutions to prevent or deter the commission of acts of sexual harassment and to provide procedures for resolution, settlement or prosecution of acts, of sexual harassment by taking all steps required.

"The existing laws, if necessary, must be revised and appropriate new laws must be enacted by Parliament and the state legislatures to protect women from any form of indecency, indignity and disrespect at all places," the three-judge Bench said.

The Bench further said it was the State's responsibility to provide new initiatives for education and advancement of women and girls in all spheres of life.

"Lip service, hollow statements and inert and inadequate laws with sloppy enforcement are not enough for true and genuine uplift of our half most precious population – the women."

The court directed all organisations and statutory bodies or institutions to set up a committee to deal with all cases of sexual harassment at the workplace.

In its judgement, the court also criticised the low representation of women in Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies as women represent only 10-11 per cent of the total seats.

"India ranks 129 out of 147 countries in United Nations Gender Equality Index. This is lower than all South Asian countries except Afghanistan. Our Constitution framers believed in fairness and justice for women," the court noted.