Delhi High Court Refuses To Entertain PIL Alleging Sexual Harassment In Indian Film Industry

The Delhi High Court has refused to entertain a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) alleging sexual harassment in the Indian film industry.

A Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela observed, "We will examine when there is a complaint. Your petition is structured on the report of Justice Hema Committee which is being looked into by another court," the bench said, "we will not direct any roving and fishing inquiry."

The Bench said that in the absence of a complaint by an aggrieved party, it couldn't order a "roving and fishing" inquiry.

The Petition was filed by Ajeesh Kalathil Gopi, who claimed that sexual harassment is present in the entire film industry and he has even made complaint to relevant authorities in this regard. He relied on the Justice Hema Committee report with respect to instances of sexual exploitation in the Malayalam film industry and sought a direction to the National Commission for Women (NCW) to inquire into the alleged violation of fundamental and human rights in the "Indian film industry" as well. He further sought that the report of the committee be produced verbatim to ensure transparency.

The Court in view of the above allegations, noted that the Complaint should come from a survivor.

"Entire petition was based on surmises without any empirical data", it said.

The Court, therefore, concluded that the Petition does not set out any specific Complaint of any particular person of sexual harassment, for which no remedy is available.

Accordingly, the High Court dismissed the PIL.

With PTI Inputs