Touching the body with a cloth is not sexual harassment

The Mumbai High Court has rejected a lower court’s order on a petition filed by the sexual harassment accused, saying that touching a girl’s body with a cloth cannot be termed as sexual harassment.

According to Indian media, the single bench of the Nagpur branch of the Bombay High Court had given the verdict on January 19, but now a written verdict has been issued.

Mumbai High Court judge Pushpa Varindra Gandiwala, while ruling on the plea of ​​accused Satish Bandhorgarh, said that touching a girl’s body without taking off her clothes is not sexual harassment but is a mockery of a woman or a person.

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Justice Pushpa Varindra Gandiwala in his remarks said that there was no evidence in the case that the accused had committed direct sexual harassment or penetration.

According to the court, touching the body of a 12-year-old girl on a cloth does not fall under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (PAXO) Act, but it could be an act of damaging the dignity of any woman or girl.