SC mulls women-led panel on journalists’ sexual violence complaints:Top court allows sealed-cover submissions for Delhi protest cases

The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would consider constituting a committee, comprising predominantly or exclusively women, to examine complaints of sexual violence against women journalists during recent protests in Delhi. A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said the proposed panel could include a retired woman judge, a former woman IPS officer and a social worker or activist with a credible track record. The observations came during the hearing of a petition filed by the Network of Women in Media, India (NWMI), seeking safeguards for journalists covering protests, including protection against alleged assault, intimidation and arbitrary detention. Senior advocate Indira Jaising, appearing for the petitioner, urged the court to constitute a separate committee to examine complaints of violence, including sexual harassment, and consider compensation for affected journalists. Jaising told the bench that women journalists faced particular vulnerabilities while reporting from protest sites, as they exercised not only their right to freedom of speech and peaceful protest but also their right to work. She alleged that women journalists were pushed and manhandled by police personnel, particularly male officers, while covering the demonstrations. Jaising said the proposed committee should function independently of the inquiry panel already constituted by the Supreme Court to investigate the July 20 student protests at Jantar Mantar. She also urged the court to ensure that the committee was headed by a woman and included retired officials rather than serving police officers, along with representatives from civil society. She referred to the Vishakha guidelines, which laid down safeguards against sexual harassment at the workplace. SC agrees to receive complaints in sealed cover Jaising sought permission to submit a list of complaints, along with the names of women journalists willing to file affidavits detailing their experiences, in a sealed cover to protect their identities. Agreeing to the request, CJI Kant said the court would handle the matter sensitively, keeping the vulnerability of the complainants in mind. The bench also asked Jaising to submit a separate sealed envelope containing her proposed names for the committee. The court said it wanted to pass an order in the matter as soon as it received the material. In its brief order, it recorded that Jaising would submit the collected material and suggested names of former judges, former police officers and social activists in sealed envelopes during the course of the day. Petition seeks guidelines for police conduct during protests The NWMI petition has sought enforceable guidelines governing police interactions with journalists during protests and public demonstrations. It has also sought an independent inquiry into the alleged incidents and action against police personnel found responsible. The plea follows allegations by women journalists covering protests in Delhi against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The journalists alleged that they were manhandled, detained and prevented from performing their professional duties despite identifying themselves as members of the press. The allegations also follow a separate incident on October 3, when three women journalists accused Delhi Police personnel of sexual harassment during their detention at a protest near Jantar Mantar. On October 11, the Supreme Court had directed that lawyers, journalists and other professionals should not be obstructed from discharging their professional duties during protests.