Supreme Court Plea Urges Political Parties to Adhere to POSH Act

Speedy Summary

• A petition has been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking directions for political parties to comply with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act).
• The plea argues that women working in political parties should receive protections under the POSH Act just as women in other professions do.
• Petitioner Yogamaya MG had previously approached the Election Commission of India regarding this issue but received no response.
• The petition highlights studies by UN Women (2013) and Inter-Parliamentary Union (2016), which document psychological and sexual harassment in political spaces.
• despite provisions under POSH, grassroots-level female workers lack effective legal remedies against sexual harassment during campaigns and party work.
• respondents include the Center and major political parties such as BJP and Congress.
• Key demands include setting up grievance redressal mechanisms within parties, establishment of internal complaints committees, and adhering to guidelines established by Supreme Court judgments like Vishaka.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The petition addresses a meaningful gap in extending workplace protection laws to women engaged in political activities. The exclusion of female party workers from safeguards under the POSH Act raises questions about parity with other sectors where such protections are mandated. By emphasizing grassroots vulnerabilities and citing credible studies on harassment within politics, this plea underscores an urgent societal need.Accountability mechanisms like internal complaints committees could improve inclusivity while ensuring compliance with existing legislation. However, implementation challenges-including reluctance from some partisan groups-may require consistent judicial oversight or policy refinement.For more details: Read More

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