Citation

Gupta P, Fatima N, Kandikuppa S. Soc. Change 2021; 51(2): 246-257.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2021, Council for Social Development, Publisher SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/0049085720957753

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Despite a law against sexual harassment of women at the workplace, persons holding high offices, including senior judges, seem to enjoy impunity. By critically examining the allegations made against Justice Ranjan Gogoi (retd), former Chief Justice of India, and analysing five other cases of sexual harassment, we highlight how women are routinely denied justice. In doing so, we ask: are women actually able to file complaints of sexual harassment without the fear of facing a backlash? And do they ultimately get justice when they do so? We argue that the implementation of the law against sexual harassment is mediated by caste, class and gender, both of the survivor and of the perpetrator. We point to a changing polity that makes laws, guarantees and protections for women, but stumbles in implementing them in a fair and non-arbitrary manner.

Language: en

Keywords

India; legal redress; Sexual harassment; workplace