Supreme Court judge Justice N Kotiswar Singh on Thursday emphasized that sexual harassment at the workplace is fundamentally opposed to the constitutional values of equality, liberty, justice, and individual dignity. He called for urgent collective action to ensure a safe and inclusive work environment for women across all sectors.
Justice Singh was speaking at the launch of a dedicated online portal by the Delhi High Court to facilitate complaints related to workplace sexual harassment. The launch was attended by Delhi High Court Chief Justice DK Upadhyay and Justice Prathiba M Singh, who chairs the Court’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC).
“Sexual harassment demeans women and creates a toxic work atmosphere. It acts as a barrier to creativity and causes immense mental and physical trauma,” Justice Singh said. “Such acts are antithetical to the enabling constitutional principles of equality, liberty, and justice.”
He underscored the urgency of addressing the issue head-on, especially in light of the growing participation of women in all fields of national development. “There is a paradigm shift as more women break traditional barriers. It is incumbent upon all of us to ensure that workplaces are safe, secure, and free from insidious practices that undermine dignity and equality,” he added.
Justice Singh also spoke of the cultural and systemic challenges that hinder progress in combating workplace harassment. “One of the greatest challenges is the deep-rooted cultural resistance in acknowledging certain acts as harassment. Often, organisations view such complaints as reputational threats rather than opportunities for reform,” he remarked, urging for widespread sensitisation and attitudinal change.
Highlighting the role of male colleagues, Justice Singh said that men must be active allies in creating a respectful work culture. “It is important for men to understand what makes their female colleagues uncomfortable and offer support in cases of inappropriate conduct—not out of sympathy, but from a sense of solemn obligation.”
The newly launched portal aims to streamline the process of filing complaints under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act and reinforce the judiciary’s commitment to fostering a gender-sensitive workplace.
