Question

Vishakha v/s. State of Rajasthan case is related to

• A. Sexual harassment at workplace
• B. Protection of civil rights
• C. Uniform civil code
• D. None of the above

Hint:

The Vishakha case is a classic example of judicial legislation, where the judiciary steps in to fill a legislative void to protect fundamental rights. Remember that the guidelines from this case formed the basis for the 2013 Act on the subject.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
The case of Vishakha v. State of Rajasthan is a landmark judgment of the Supreme Court of India that addressed a significant gap in the law concerning the safety and dignity of working women.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
This case was filed as a Public Interest Litigation by various women's groups following the brutal gang rape of a social worker, Bhanwari Devi, in Rajasthan. The case highlighted the hazards that working women were facing due to sexual harassment at the workplace.
At that time, there was no specific civil or criminal law to address this issue. The Supreme Court, in its judgment in 1997, acknowledged this legislative vacuum. Invoking its powers under Article 32 and referencing international conventions like CEDAW, the court laid down a comprehensive set of guidelines, famously known as the Vishakha Guidelines, for employers to follow to prevent and redress complaints of sexual harassment at the workplace. These guidelines were binding and enforceable until the Parliament enacted the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act in 2013.

Step 3: Final Answer:
The Vishakha case is related to the prevention of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.