The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 entails to provide protection against sexual harassment of women at workplace and for the protection and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Sexual harassment includes any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or behaviour (whether directly or by implication) namely:
- Physical contact or advances; or
- A demand or request for sexual favours; or
- Making sexually coloured remarks; or
- Showing pornography; or
- Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
Where any of these acts is committed in circumstances where-under the victim of such conduct has a reasonable apprehension that in relation to the victim’s employment or enrolment in the institution whether she is drawing salary, or honorarium or otherwise, such conduct can be humiliating and may constitute a health and safety problem. It is discriminatory for instance when the woman has reasonable grounds to believe that her objection would disadvantage her in connection with her employment or work or studentship including recruiting or promotion or academics when it creates a hostile work environment. Adverse consequences might be visited if the victim does not consent to the conduct in question or raises any objection thereto.