New Delhi, Oct 19: Expressing deep concern that women continued to be harassed at work places despite its order passed 15 years ago, the Supreme Court today directed all state governments to implement its verdict and bring amendments in law to stop such incidents.
A bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said “lip service and hollow statements” are not enough to uplift the condition of women and asked the governments to put in place law to tackle the problem.
“The Vishaka judgement came on 13.8.1997. Yet, 15 years after the guidelines were laid down by this court for the prevention and redressal of sexual harassment and their due compliance under Article 141 of the Constitution of India until such time appropriate legislation was enacted by Parliament, many women still struggle to have their most basic rights protected at workplaces.
The statutory law is not in place,” a bench headed by Justice R M Lodha said.
“Lip service, hollow statements and inert and inadequate laws with sloppy enforcement are not enough for true and genuine upliftment of our half most precious population - the women,” the bench said.
The court also expressed concern over low representation of women in legislative bodies in the country.
“While we have marched forward substantially in bringing gender parity in local self-governments, the representation of women in Parliament and the Legislative Assemblies is dismal as the women represent only 10-11 per cent of the total seats.
India ranks 129 out of 147 countries in United Nations Gender Equality Index,” the bench said.
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