Sexual Harassment in Indian Educational Workplaces: Legal Framework & Institutional Reforms

Introduction

Sexual harassment is a symptom of strained personal connections. It is not only a breach of human decency, access to social welfare, and fairness guaranteed by all social systems but also a violation of the human right to life and peaceful relationships as granted by law. Although sexual harassment in educational institutions has received some publicity in cultural and legal circles over the past few decades—such as the passage of the Sexual Harassment Act of 2013—the causes and effects of sexual harassment in workplaces have received less recognition.

This article provides insight into the sexual harassment issues encountered by students and professors in Indian schools and universities. These issues significantly impact women seeking better employment opportunities and girls pursuing education in a developing economy. The focus of this article is to examine the behavior of assaulters, who may be employers or employees of academic institutions, and to explore how to resolve victims’ complaints quickly yet fairly. When a woman who has been sexually harassed speaks out against unjust treatment, the integrity and stability of the academic system can be severely harmed and polluted.

The intensity of the effects faced by young women and lecturers subjected to abuse, especially given the fiduciary relationship between the aggrieved woman and the offender during their time in educational establishments, makes this issue both relevant and important. Recognizing what constitutes sexual harassment, how to address it, and how to prevent it in educational institutions is critical for administrators, employees, students, and their families. It is long overdue for each educational establishment to design and implement an effective grievance redressal mechanism to address the problem promptly.

Legal Consequences of Sexual Harassment in India

Sexual harassment is psychologically harmful and creates an unpleasant and inefficient work environment. It is usually classified into two categories: quid pro quo and hostile work environment.

  1. Quid pro quo refers to inappropriate behaviour when a colleague, manager, or supervisor seeks physical favours in return for job-related benefits and threatens employees with severe consequences if such demands are not met.
  2. Hostile work environment occurs when a colleague, supervisor, or superior engages in physical or verbal actions that interfere with another person’s ability to work or create a workplace culture that is oppressive, aggressive, inflammatory, or embarrassing, thereby violating personal integrity.

Sexual assault has long been acknowledged as one of the most terrifying and offensive acts of abuse. The landmark case Vishaka vs. State of Rajasthan (1997) established workplace sexual harassment as a violation of human rights. The Supreme Court’s ruling laid out guidelines for implementing basic human rights for women through preventive measures, protective mechanisms, and retributive justice. It mandated that the government, public sector, and other entities establish grievance redressal mechanisms.

The court also cited the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), adopted in 1979, and ruled that in the absence of explicit legislation, international laws could fill the gap to protect fundamental civil rights in India. Until the Vishaka ruling, India lacked specific legislation addressing sexual harassment. Provisions such as Sections 354 (outraging a woman’s modesty), 375 (rape), and 509 (intending to insult a woman’s modesty) of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, were insufficient to address and reduce instances of sexual harassment.

Sexual harassment violates a woman’s fundamental right to equality under Article 14 of the Indian Constitution and her right to liberty and dignity under Article 21, which includes the right to a harassment-free workplace. Several Supreme Court cases interpreting these articles have emphasized the right to a dignified existence guaranteed by Article 21.

It took 16 years for Indian lawmakers to enact legislation that provides a comprehensive framework for addressing complaints of sexual harassment. The law also ensures women’s rights are protected. In Bangladesh National Women Lawyers Association vs. Government of Bangladesh (2009), the Bangladesh High Court cited instances of sexual harassment of female teachers and students in educational institutions and specifically noted that the regulations from the Vishaka case could apply to academic institutions as well as workplaces.

Conclusion

Sexual harassment of women is a global issue whose severity is felt by all parties involved. To combat harassment, countries have adopted various legal strategies. With the enactment of India’s law on workplace safety for women, which includes rigorous guidelines for prevention and protection, every woman—whether a student, non-academic staff, or educator—must be safeguarded from sexual misconduct, threats of violence, and exploitation while associated with university premises. Our goal should be to create a society where every woman is free from sexual harassment and has the liberty to work in an environment free of such misconduct in any form.


Riya Majumder (CMR Law School – 5th Year )

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NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 – India’s 1st Moot on Disability Rights

NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 – A Historic Step Toward Inclusive Legal Advocacy

The NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 is India’s first national-level moot court competition dedicated solely to the legal rights of persons with disabilities (PwDs). Organized by the prestigious West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS), Kolkata, this competition sets a new precedent in legal education by focusing exclusively on disability law.

With a history of hosting top-tier events such as the NUJS-HSF Moot, ADR Mediation Competition, and Para-Invicta, NUJS continues its tradition of promoting inclusivity and justice with this pioneering initiative.

What Is the NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 About?

This moot is designed to:

  • Encourage legal scholarship in disability law
  • Highlight critical themes like workplace discrimination, inclusive education, and accessibility
  • Create a national platform for future legal professionals to explore and argue real-world issues under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016

The competition includes:

  • Memorial Qualification Round
  • Offline Oral Rounds at the WBNUJS campus in Kolkata
  • Researcher’s Test for qualifying teams

Key Dates and Deadlines

EventDate
Registration OpensMay 30, 2025
Clarification DeadlineJune 25, 2025
Registration ClosesJune 30, 2025
Memorial SubmissionJuly 12, 2025
Oral Round ShortlistJuly 21, 2025
Oral Rounds at WBNUJSAugust 21–24, 2025

Eligibility & Team Composition

  • Open to undergraduate law students in any Indian university
  • 2 to 3 members per team
  • Cross-college teams allowed
  • No cap on the number of teams per institution
  • Postgraduate students are not eligible

Awards & Recognition

The NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 offers extensive awards, including:

  • Winning, Runners-Up & Second Runners-Up Teams
  • Best Advocate (Prelims and Overall)
  • Best Memorials (Petitioner & Respondent)
  • Best Researcher & Runner-Up
  • Certificates for Semi- and Quarter-Finalists
  • Participation certificates for all teams

Registration Fees & Optional Accommodation

  • Memo Round Fee: ₹2,500/team
    • ₹2,100 for teams with at least one PwD participant
  • Oral Round Fee (for shortlisted teams): ₹2,000
  • Accommodation (optional): ₹5,500/team (August 21–24)

Payment Details:

  • Account Name: Student Juridical Association
  • Account No: 520101246976299
  • IFSC Code: UBIN0906638
  • Bank: Union Bank, NUJS Branch, Salt Lake, Kolkata

Registration Process

  1. Fill the official Google Form: https://forms.gle/sZHKXriWTy4EEfGL8
  2. Email the following to nationaldisabilitymoot@nujs.edu:
    • Names, Years, and Institutions of team members
    • College ID Cards
    • Payment screenshot

Contact Details

  • Email: nationaldisabilitymoot@nujs.edu
  • Chair: Kinjal Das – +91 75959 65675
  • Deputy Chairs:
    • Anushka Maji – +91 86174 78308
    • Saarthak Samadder – +91 94330 48880
  • Board of Directors:
    • Ritika Amlajiya – +91 80943 45186
    • Shubhankar Singha – +91 96797 30493

Final Words

The NUJS National Disability Law Moot 2025 is not just another moot—it’s a platform for change. By promoting awareness of the challenges faced by PwDs through legal debate, WBNUJS is nurturing future lawyers who will lead the way in accessibility and justice.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of history. Register today and join us in Kolkata for a groundbreaking legal experience.


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Essential Guide to Formatting a Moot Court Memorial: Structure, Content, and Rules

Sample Moot Court Memorial Format

One of the main tasks of the moot court competition is formatting the memorial. People often use the wrong formatting style, leading to a low memorial score and, eventually, law team marks. This is why there is a specific award for Best Memorial.

Before going into depth about the formatting style, we must understand the structure of the memorial, i.e., the content.

The memorial must begin with a Cover page, followed by a Table of contents, List of abbreviations, Index of authorities, Statement of jurisdiction, Statement of facts, Questions Presented, Summary of arguments, Arguments advanced and Prayer.

COVER PAGE:

  1. The cover page contains the name of the competition, i.e.,

The 2024 XYZ National Moot Court Competition


2. Secondly, it must mention the name of the court before which the parties are appearing with the jurisdiction of the parties, i.e.

Before

The Hon’ble Supreme Court of XYZ

under Article 32 of the Constitution of XYZ, 1950.

3. The name of the parties must be mentioned there (mention number of the appeal/petition, if available), i.e.

Writ Petition No. 00/2024


In the matter of

Mrs. ABC                                                                                               …PETITIONERS

V.

Mr.  CDE                                                                                                …RESPONDENT


4. For whom are you submitting that memorial, i.e.

Memorial for the Petitioner

-Petitioner-

5. Mention your Code and other details if necessary.

TABLE OF CONTENT:

Table of Contents lists the contents of the Memorial, i.e.

List of Abbreviations. iii

Index of Authorities. iv

Statement of Jurisdiction  vii

Table of abbreviations 

It will list all the abbreviations (short forms) that you have used in your memorial, including the footnotes, i.e.

AbbreviationFull Form
Art.Article
§Section
Paragraph
v.Versus

Index of Authorities 

Index of Authorities is the bibliography of the memorial. It lists all the statutes, cases, treatises (books), journal articles, reports, and other materials that have been used as authorities in the memorial, i.e.

Cases:

A S Krishnan v. State of Kerala, 2005 SCC (Cr) 612……………………………………………. 1

Statutes:

Constitution of India, 1950, art 22(1)……………………………………………………………….. 12

Treatises:

D. D. Basu, Commentary on the Constitution of India, D. D. Basu (Calcutta, S. C. Sarkar & Sons, 13th Edition, Vol. I, 1955)…………………………………………………….. 12

STATEMENT OF JURISDICTION 

It is a declaration of the court’s jurisdiction in which the petitioners have brought their case. It helps to ensure that it is accurate and crucial for the case’s sustainability, i.e.

Respondent humbly submits this memorandum in response to the Writ Petition filed before the Hon’ble Supreme Court of Baraat under Article 32 of the Constitution of Baraat, 1950.

STATEMENT OF FACTS

Write the facts of the moot proposition in your language by including the essential facts. The facts of the proposition change depending on the parties.

QUESTION PRESENTED

The questions/issues are already mentioned in the moot proposition; copy-paste the questions.

SUMMARY OF ARGUMENTS 

Briefly write a summary of your arguments.

ARGUMENTS ADVANCED

Arguments Advance are the detailed descriptions of each issue. It must explain and support the issue by referring to cases, studies, reports, etc.

The structure is fundamental when writing pleadings. It is divided into two parts: the external and internal structures.

External Structure

  1. Division of Headings: Main argument followed by ingredients of the argument.
  2. Content of Headings: Plain Assertions in your favour (Primary Argument+ Alternate/In Any Case)
  3. Roadmap, i.e.
  1. MAIN HEADING
       1.1 Content of the primary heading
             1.1.1 Subheading of (1.1)

Internal Structure

C- Conclusion: Heading

L- Law: ONLY relevant law [statute, cases]; don’t ignore the procedural laws.

F- Fact: ONLY relevant facts. Make the division with law apparent. Mention any reasonable inference from facts.

A- Analysis: Application of law to facts

C(R)- Conclusion (Reasoned): Assertion+ Legal Reason

PRAYER 

Prayer is the most crucial part of the memorial. It tells the parties’ interest in what they want to seek from the court and what they want the decision to be. i.e,


In light of the preceding submissions, RESPONDENT respectfully requests the Hon’ble Court  to find that:

  1. Write your pleadings –

Respectfully signed and submitted by counsel on 11th September 2024,

On behalf of the Counsel for Respondent.

GENERAL RULES

  1. Always adhere to the prescribed fort, size and line spacing.
  2. Don’t exceed the word limit.
  3. Citation as per the guidelines and uniformity in the citation.
  4. Neat and clean memorial.

For more details on upcoming moot court competitions, visit our Moots page.

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