Pritanshu Shrivastava and Rohit Padhi write about sexual harrasment at work place and its implications.

Abstract

The article analyses the victimisation of women through sexual harassment at work place that results in the violation of gender equality. The first part of the article discusses the meaning of the terms ‘sexual harassment’ and ‘work place’ as per The Sexual Harassment of Women at Work Place (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2006. In the next part, the author offers theoretical propositions which might be responsible for the crimes against women. The author further discussed sexual harassment as a violation of human and fundamental rights. The International Bill of Human Rights is discussed extensively, including the covenants passed under it and their relevant articles and stipulations. An Indian perspective is also brought in with the Protection of Human Right Act, 1993 which defines human rights as rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual. The landmark Supreme Court judgment of Vishaka v. State of Rajasthan that identified sexual harassment as violative of the women’s right to equality in the workplace and enlarged the ambit of its definition has been analysed. The author penultimately discusses the impact of such discriminatory behaviour and sexual violence on women. The article ends with suggestive measures to improve the dire condition of such gender inequality.