#MeToo: Panel on sexual harassment complaints in two days

Women and child development minister Maneka Gandhi’s proposal to form a committee of judges and lawyers to examine the existing legal and institutional framework for complaints of sexual harassment at workplace is expected to materialise in the next two days.

In the wake of the #MeToo movement that took the social media by storm, Gandhi had last week announced the formation of the committee that would hold public hearings with stakeholders and complainants, and consequently “advise” the government on changes in the law, if need be.

Women and child development ministry insiders said the government was looking at the issue beyond the #MeToo movement and media. “The #MeToo movement is about known people, but we need to increase the scope of the issue beyond this,” one of the sources told ET. “The aim is to get more women to report such incidents, even if the harasser is not famous personality.”


While the government is looking at strengthening the provisions available for reporting a case of sexual harassment at workplace, it is also looking at the stipulated time limit for reporting a crime under the statutes of limitation. Last week, Gandhi had asked the law ministry to examine the case of keeping no time limit for reporting offences of child sexual abuse under the POCSO Act.