Nirbhaya’s lawyer: POSH Act needs better implementation

Lucknow: Lawyer in the Nirbhaya case and Supreme Court advocate, Seema Samridhi, said on Thursday that while delay in judicial processes is a major challenge in getting justice for victims of crimes against women, the

POSH

Act has not been able to achieve desired results due to laxity in implementation.

Samridhi was speaking at a webinar on ‘legal tools for women against attempts of harassment at workplaces’ organized by the department of Sanskrit and Prakrit languages at Lucknow University. The event is a part of a six-month campaign launched recently under ‘Mission Shakti’ by LU to sensitise students on gender issues.

Citing the example of Nirbhaya case that took almost a year to get listed in court and seven years thereafter for justice, Samridhi said that the government should come up with a mechanism to expedite the judicial process.

She explained the aims of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, also known as POSH Act, to students and faculty members.

Dean of arts and Sanskrit faculty Prof BK Shukla informed the audience about strict punishments prescribed in Hindu scriptures for crimes against women.

Coordinator for LU Mission Shakti Prof Sheela Mishra said that soon, LU will host a brainstorming session with ICC chairpersons of other institutes in the city to make POSH implementation more effective.