Question

The case of Vishakha and others Vs. State of Rajasthan and others is related to -
1. Transfer policy for women 
2. Maternity leaves in respect of working women 
3. Prevention of the practice of dowry prevalent in the society 
4. Prevention of sexual harassment of women at work place

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 4 : Prevention of sexual harassment of women at work place

The correct answer is Prevention of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.

• The case of Vishakha and others Vs. The state of Rajasthan and others is related to the Prevention of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.
• Various women's groups led by Naina Kapur and her organisation, Sakshi filed Public Interest Litigation to enforce the fundamental rights of working women under Articles 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India.
• In India, before 1997, there were no formal guidelines for how an incident involving sexual harassment at the workplace should be dealt with by an employer.
• In 1997, the Supreme Court in India formulated the Vishakha guidelines to protect women from sexual harassment at workplaces.
  • The Supreme court made it mandatory for all institutions to follow the Vishaka guidelines across the country.
  • The guidelines suggested that the compliance mechanism should ensure the time-bound treatment of complaints.
• The Vishakha guidelines gave rise to the foundation to redress the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Act, 2013.
  • The Act defines sexual harassment at the workplace and creates a mechanism for redressal of complaints.
  • Eve-teasing at public or private places is criminal and made punishable under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).