Centre Gets SC Notice to Implement Sexual Harassment Act Better

Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, Redressal) Act case posted for hearing in 4 weeks.

Is the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, Redressal) Act, 2013 being implemented in its “true spirit”? Image used for representational purposes.

(Photo: The Quint/Abhishek Ranjan)

The Supreme Court has issued a notice to the Centre and the states in a PIL seeking the proper implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, Redressal) Act, 2013, reports Bar & Bench.

The court posted the case for hearing after four weeks. According to the report, the 4 January notice came in response to a petition filed by Initiatives for Inclusion Foundation NGO trustees Pallavi Pareek and Esha Shekhar. The petition was heard by a bench comprising Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud.

Sanjay Parikh, appearing for the petitioners, told Live Law that the Act had not been implemented in its “true spirit”. Among the main prayers are:

• Direct the states to implement the law in its full spirit without further delay.
• Direct the states to give full support to District Officers under Section 5 of the Act.
• Provision for a constitution of a Local Complaints Committee under Sections 6 and 7.
• Set up an Internal Complaints Committee under Section 4.
• Appoint Nodal Officers as per Section 6 of the Act.

(With inputs from Bar & Bench)