Commenting on a woman’s figure is sexual harassment : Kerala HC

Kochi (Kerala) – Commenting on a woman’s figure is tantamount to sexual harassment, the Kerala High Court has said while hearing a case. The Court rejected the plea filed by a Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) male employee, seeking quashing of the sexual harassment case filed by a female employee in his office.

The woman had alleged that the accused had been using abusive language against her since 2013 and then started sending offensive messages in 2016-17. Even after a complaint was registered against the accused with the Police, he continued to send offensive messages. The advocate, while arguing on behalf of the accused, said that the accused only commented on the victim’s body shape. He requested that this should not be considered as sexual harassment, and that the case be dismissed. The Court, however, said that the accused’s intention was to harass the woman and hurt her reputation.