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ShareMumbai: A complaint of molestation by an airline staffer has been dismissed by a panel citing the employee's history of indiscipline and habitual levelling of charges against colleagues. DNA asks women about the incident.
Expert View
Women should be aware of laws
Sexual harassment is a sensitive issue. The grounds on which Air India dismissed the complaint filed by airhostess Komal Singh is disappointing. Even today, we tend to shy away from crimes against women. Civil society doesn't support a woman in distress. In the mid-nineties, a senior female civil servant from Punjab, Rupan Deol Bajaj, sued top cop KPS Gill for sexual harassment. She had to face a lot of criticism because Gill was considered a hero and was credited to eliminating the Punjab insurgency.
At workplace, women face different kinds of harassment and they don't know how to go about with it. Even the few cases where few women stand up and complain are trivialised by companies. Our mindset needs to be changed. Women don't know who to turn to when harassed. Supreme Court wants companies to set up sexual harassment cells, but we have a long way to go. The main reason is the fact that women are unaware about what constitutes sexual harassment.
--Teesta Setalvad
Cops need gender sensitisation
A history of indiscipline and habitual levelling of charges by the complainant cannot be grounds for quashing a plea for sexual harassment. For any case the allegation has to be proved with evidence and witnesses. I'm unaware of the details of the case of the airhostess, so I can't exactly comment on the actual reason. There are laws to protect women from harassment but some women wrongly use the laws to settle scores.
Moreover, women don't support their colleagues in bringing perpetrators of harassment to book. Even when women go to the police, the authorities subtlety try to stonewall them. Their mode of questioning is inquisitorial. Cops must be responsive to the grievances of women. Even corporate groups go slow and don't take the demands for a separate women's cell seriously. Women should raise their voice against such harassment and demand for protection with unity.
--Usha Purohit, senior lawyer
Truth will only emerge if law prevails
It is very difficult to judge what has transpired, many instances of molestation go unreported. There are also cases where individuals lodge false complaints, merely out of spite and revenge. It is important to conduct a proper detailed investigation rather than come to a conclusion on the basis of conjectures. The truth will only emerge if law is allowed to take its course. Many times corporate groups prefer to suppress the matter since undue publicity spoils the reputation of the organisation. Ideally a woman shouldn't hesitate to take the legal course of action.
--Manish Warik
Family support is important for victims
This is difficult to believe that the airhostess Komal Singh filed a false complaint of molestation. From aspects of the case, it is clear that there is no other motivation like money or promotion, behind her accusation. Secondly no woman will bring an issue like harassment to light, if there is no truth. It takes a lot for a woman to stand up against sexual harassment. The response of her family towards these charges is what plagues her. While the police are helpful in protecting women, laws are made in such a way that it is difficult to nail a culprit.
--Reshma Majithia
Fair investigation to ascertain charges of misdemeanours
One cannot generalise if cases of sexual harassment are trivialised by corporate groups. However, the police and concerned authorities must take complaints of molestation seriously. When tackling a case of harassment against women or children, the police take it up seriously. There are very few instances when women file false complaints due to personal vendetta. But they seem to be blown out of proportion and every accusation is seen in the similar light.
--Kripi Ballu
Companies choose to brush aside complaints
The dismissal of the complaint filed by an airhostess with an airline carrier because she has a history of filing complaints is not right. The woman should have been reprimanded earlier for complaining, rather than the authorities being dismissive of her charge of molestation now. When such complaints arise, companies choose to brush them under the carpet to prevent negative publicity. Corporate entities must deal fairlyin case of any grievance. Some companies have cells to deal with such situations. There are strict guidelines which detail how to deal when such grievances arise.
--Kairav Parikh
Commission for women must ensure justice
The manner in which the panel has dismissed the case doesn't seem justified. The panel comprised senior women executives and a NGO representative as members. It seems the committee is more interested in protecting the officials in the dock than giving justice to the air-hostess. I'm in favour of a complete enquiry in this case. The National Commission for Women must take this issue and ensure that justice is done. I don't think we should let anyone go scot-free. Few women show such courage to raise their voice against sexual harassment, this is why it has become widespread.
--Rupali Sen
