Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed sexual harassment case against company director over single abusive remark. Court held absence of sexual intent fails statutory requirements, stressing strict legal scrutiny of harassment allegations under law.
Bombay High Court at Goa held ICC cannot hide instigator of false complaint as unknown source. Justice Neela Gokhale ruled omission unjustified when retraction letter clearly names responsible individual in proceedings.
The Bombay High Court held that staring at a woman colleague is unethical but does not constitute voyeurism under Section 354C IPC. It clarified the offence requires invasion of privacy through observing or recording private acts, not mere workplace misconduct.
A magistrate court in Ernakulam granted police three days’ custody of filmmaker Ranjith Balakrishnan in a sexual harassment case. The court allowed custodial interrogation, directing he remain with police for three days including April five and six.
The Supreme Court ruled that an ICC formed at a woman’s workplace can handle POSH Act complaints even when the accused works in a different government department. The Court affirmed that ICCs can conduct factual inquiries across departmental lines.
The Supreme Court has agreed to hear a plea questioning the Bombay High Court’s view that the POSH Act does not apply to complaints by women advocates before bar councils. The case could redefine sexual harassment protections for women lawyers across India.
The Supreme Court on PoSH Act dismissed a plea seeking to apply the sexual harassment law to political parties, ruling that membership in a party is not employment.
