PIL seeks extension of POSH Act to political parties.

PIL seeks extension of POSH Act to political parties.

It seeks the application of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) to political parties. The petitioner has argued that political parties, like any other organization, should also provide a safe working place for women and have well-functioning mechanisms to tackle sexual harassment.Background The POSH Act is designed to protect women against sexual harassment in all Indian workforces. It requires the establishment of Internal Complaints Committees, which are responsible for making inquiries and determining decisions based on complaints about harassment. Political parties, on the other hand, notwithstanding having a large number of women working within different capacities, are not mentioned explicitly in the Act today. The petitioner submits that such mechanisms within political parties would save women from exploitation, discrimination, and harassment. The plea underlines the fact that political entities mostly function in informal structures where hierarchical and power structures deter women from raising their voices or seeking redressal. Important Arguments in the PIL Definition of Workplace Political parties are workplaces for female members, employees, and volunteers, the PIL submits, which bring them under the purview of the broader workplace definition of the POSH Act. Constitutional Protection: The petitioner submitted that denial of protection offended articles 14, 15 and 21 of the Constitution to have equality, non-discrimination, and right to life with dignity. Gender parity in Politics: Safe spaces in political parties would lead to more participation of women in politics, which is one of the central objectives of India's policy on gender equality and empowerment. International Obligations: India being a signatory to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), has a commitment to adopt measures to prevent and address harassment in all spheres, including political spaces. Reliefs Sought The PIL seeks directions to Mandate political parties to constitute the ICCs under the POSH Act. Training and awareness on gender sensitivity and workplace harassment within the political organizations. Establish a monitoring body responsible for compliance. Potential implications This would be a great move of the Supreme Court of India extending POSH to political parties for the accountability and inclusiveness in politics. This step would resolve the systemic issue of harassment and create more open spaces for women's safety in politics. Conclusion This PIL seeks imperative, urgent action bringing the political parties within the fold of POSH Act, gender justice within the political framework, and providing equal opportunities at the workplaces. The response from the Supreme Court will be decisive on the issue.

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