#MeToo: Ministers to Probe if Sexual Harrasment Laws Need Change

Maneka Gandhi and Nirmala Sitharaman will be a part of the group of ministers.

India’s #MeToo movement has engulfed many names in Bollywood and the media industry.

(Photo: The Quint/Aroop Mishra)

As the #MeToo movement gains ground in India, the government will set up a group of ministers headed by Rajnath Singh to examine whether sexual harassment laws need to change, a Times of India report states. In this context, the group will also examine if mechanisms like the Vishakha guidelines are adequate.

Women & Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi and Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will be part of the GoM, and will probe if the scope of action needs to be extended to include offences outside the workplace. A report will be issued in three months.

Additionally, the GoM will revisit the requirement of filing a complaint within three months of the date of offence as per the 2013 law on prevention of sexual harassment. Other lacunae in the laws of sexual harassment will also be reviewed.

This news comes shortly after the WCD ministry announced a panel to be set up to examine Me Too allegations and implications.

The news also comes close on the heels of Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar stepping down from his post on Wednesday, 17 October. This was following a spate of allegations of sexual harassment during his days as editor of several publications.

India's #MeToo movement has engulfed many names in Bollywood and the media industry.

(With inputs from PTI, Times of India)