INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
New Delhi: A Delhi court Wednesday threw out M J Akbar's criminal defamation case against journalist Priya Ramani who implicated him of
sexual harassment, saying a lady can not be penalized for raising her voice versus such abuse.A lady has the right to put grievances before
any platform of her option even after years, the court stated and dismissed Akbar's grievance holding that no charges were proved versus
It said right of track record can not be protected at the expense of right of life and dignity of a female as ensured in Constitution under
post 21 and right of equality before law and equivalent security of law as ensured under article 14
Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Pandey stated it is disgraceful that occurrences of criminal offense and violence
against females are occurring in the country where mega impressives such as Mahabarata and Ramayana were written around the style of
regard for women.Ramani made claims of sexual misbehavior versus Akbar in the wake of global #MeToo motion in 2018
Akbar submitted the problem versus her on October 15, 2018 for supposedly maligning him by implicating him of sexual misbehavior years ago
when he was a journalist.He resigned as Union minister on October 17, 2018 and rejected all the claims of unwanted sexual advances versus
the women who stepped forward throughout #MeToo project against him.The court stated it is of the considered view that case of complainant
relating to commission of offense punishable under section 500 IPC against the implicated Priya Ramani is not proved and she is acquitted
Responding to the verdict, Ramani said it feels great to have reality confirmed prior to the court.She stated: It feels incredible, truly
I feel vindicated on behalf of all the females who have actually ever spoken out versus sexual harassment at work place
It was me the victim who needed to stand up in the court as an implicated
I thank everybody who waited me particularly my witnesses Ghazala Wahab who came to the court and affirmed on my behalf
I thank the court for the decision and I thank my lawyer Rebecca John and the remarkable group who believed in me and the wider cause
They put their heart and sould in the case
In its 91-page decision the court stated that a female has a right to put her grievance at any platform of her option and even after
decades.It stated, The woman can not be penalized for raising voice against the sex abuse on the pretext of criminal problem of
disparagement as the right of track record can not be secured at the cost of the right of life and self-respect of woman as guaranteed in
Constitution under post 21 and right of equality before law and equal defense of law as ensured under article 14 of the Constitution
Accepting Ramani's contention that Akbar is not a man of outstanding reputation on the basis of testimony of witnesses, the court said it
can not be disregarded that most of the time, the offense of sexual harassment and sexual abuse devoted in the close doors or independently
In some cases victims themselves do not comprehend what is taking place to them or what is occurring to them is incorrect, the court said
In spite of how well respected some persons are in the society, they in their individual lives, might show severe ruthlessness to the women,
The Court takes consideration of methodical abuse at workplace due to lack of the system to redress grievance of unwanted sexual advances at
the time of the incidentagainst Priya Ramani and witness Ghazala Wahab prior to the issuance of Vishaka Standards and enactment of The
Sexual Harassment of females at workplace (Prevention, Restriction and Redressal) Act, 2013, or their alternative to not lodge the
complaintdue to the social stigma connected with the sexual harassment of females, the verdict stated
The court even more observed that the society should comprehend that an abusive person is similar to rest, having family and friends and can
likewise be well respected individual of the society
The victims of the sexual abuse do not even speak a word about abuse for several years since often she herself have no concept that she is a
The victim might keep believing that she is at fault and victim may live with that embarassment for several years or for years
Most of the women who suffer abuse do not speak out about it or versus it for basic factor 'The Embarassment' or the social preconception
attached with the sexual harassment and abuse
The sexual assault, if devoted versus lady, eliminates her dignity and her self self-confidence, the court stated
It said that attack on the character of sex offender by the victim is the response of self defence after the psychological trauma concerning
the pity attached with the criminal offense
The subtlety of the concerns, asked in a situation of intense individual trauma, is indicative of her cerebral power and her ability of
sharp and logical analysis
The Indian ladies are capable, lead the way for them to stand out, they just require the flexibility and equality
The 'glass ceiling' will not prevent the Indian ladies as a roadway lock for their improvement in the society, if level playing field and
social security be offered to them, it said
Describing Economic Survey, 2020-21, the court stated that work force participation rate of females in India was 26.5 per cent in 2018-19 as
compared to 80.3 percent for guys and it suggested that in order to incentivise women a safe work environment needs to be developed, to name
