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The Supreme Court on 23rd July dismissed a PIL which sought that the Vishakha guidelines on sexual harassment at workplaces be implemented in religious institutions as well. The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi was of the view that judicial orders cannot be passed to grant the prayers in the petition and that sexual harassment committees cannot be constituted for religious places. The petition sought that the Vishakha guidelines against sexual harassment at workplace may also be made applicable to ashrams, madrasas and Catholic institutions.
The petition was filed by advocate Maneesh Pathak who was of the opinion religious institutions also have women employed there other than those working on a voluntary basis. The petition said religious places constitute part of workplace and sought collection of data of such religious institutions where women practice and profess religion, for taking effective steps on the basis of the guidelines to provide assistance to the victims of sexual assaults. It was also mentioned in petition that the Centre should direct the authorities concerned of the particular area, where such religious institutions are situated, to do the background verification religious leaders, especially "new upcoming babas" or "heads of those madarsas" and churches. It also sought directions to the Centre to provide adequate measures for women safety at religious places by conducting periodic checks from state women panels. The petition mentioned incidents of sexual exploitation in religious institutions such as the issue of the Kerala priest, and other gurus like Daati Maharaj, Baba Ram Rahim and Aasaram Bapu.
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