NHRC seeks status report from Andhra Govt on lady advocate's suicide

NHRC seeks status report from Andhra Govt on lady advocate's suicide
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

New Delhi, July 2: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the Andhra Pradesh Government and the state DGP to report within two weeks regarding the suicide by a High Court advocate Sangeeta Sharma due to alleged sexual harassment by fellow lawyers.

The Commission has also sought help of the Bar Council of India (BCI) and the Bar Association of India (BAI) in examining the issue of sexual harassment in the legal profession throughout the country.

After receiving a petition from Asmita Resource Centre for Women, the Commission has asked the state Chief Secretary to reply within two weeks regarding the matter including the current status of the criminal investigation.

"The matter, in addition to the specific incident alleging harassment of an advocate, raises also the larger issue of sexual harassment of lady advocates whose number is now considerable throughout the country," NHRC said after having a full meeting of the Commission.

"The Commission also considers it necessary to examine the question of sexual harassment of fellow professionals engaged in the legal profession throughout the country.

"To enable the Commission to do so, the assistance of the BCI and BAI at this stage would be helul. In view of the fact that the case relates to the Andhra High Court it is also considered appropriate to request for the assistance of the State Bar Council as well as the Andhra Pradesh High Court Bar Association," NHRC said.

Sharma committed suicide on June 15 alleging sexual harassment by certain fellow lawyers and senior advocates, the petition by Asmita Resource Centre for Women said.

The Centre said Sharma had approached them for help but was unwilling to divulge in public the names of those harassing her, as she feared harmful consequences for her and her child.

"We then wrote a letter to the Chairman of Bar Council of AP, bringing to his notice the Supreme Court decision in Visakha Vs State of Rajasthan case and urged him to implement the judgement for lawyers," the petition said.

"As the situation did not improve for her, Sharma has left behind evidence of grave misconduct on the part of several lawyers. Two arrests were made, and one person, the main accused, who was slated for judgeship has been absconding. On June 21, the accused moved the Court for a stay on the investigation, and the same was granted till June 26," the petitioner said.

It also demanded NHRC's immediate intervention to ensure that the investigations proceed unhampered.