Sexual harassment is any sexually-oriented practice that endangers an individual’s continued employment, negatively affects his or her work performance, or undermines his or her sense of personal dignity. Sexual harassment includes such unwelcome sexually-determined behavior (whether directly or by implication) as physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favors, sexually-colored remarks, showing pornography, and any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature. Where any of these acts are committed in circumstances under which the victim of such conduct has a reasonable apprehension that in relation to the victim’s employment or work (whether she is drawing salary, honorarium or voluntary service, whether in government, public or private enterprise), such conduct can be humiliating and may constitute a health and safety problem, it amounts to sexual harassment at the workplace. An act of sexual harassment is a violation of the right to privacy of a woman, and therefore of the right to personal liberty and life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. This paper analyzes the recent legislative initiatives in India in preventing sexual harassment at workplace. |
