Author: Ananya, LLM, Law College, Dehradun, Uttaranchal University
INTRODUCTION
The issues of sexual harassment at workplace draw major public attention after the Supreme Court’s landmark judgment in case of Vishakha v. State of Rajasthan in 1997. In this historic case Vishakha and other women group filed PIL against State of Rajasthan and Union of India to enforce the fundamental rights of working women under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of The Indian Constitution.
Even after development of concept of gender equality in society and the enactment of various legislation for instance the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013, the women are still facing discrimination and harassment at their workplace. Safety and security of women at workplace is still skeptical. While the enactment of this Act was a massive step towards securing safety and security of women but the ground reality is entirely different. The status of women is still weak and vulnerable.
Women faces multiple issues at workplace, like biasness, lack of awareness regarding the provisions of exiting law, and many times inadequate implementation of law, they all together eventually lead to the harassment of women.
This problem is complex and heterogeneous, it requires not only legal solutions but also change in society and its culture. At this juncture it is important to address this deeply engraved attitude of discrimination which resulted into gender discrimination and to develop a feeling of respect, equality, safety and inclusiveness at the workplace.
