Women have the right to register a complaint against harassment even after decades

Former Union Minister M.J. Akbar has received a setback in the criminal defamation suit against Priya Ramani, a journalist who accused of him sexual harassment, when Delhi Court acquitted Ramani on Wednesday. Dismissing Akbar's plea, the court said that a woman who has been tortured has the right to register a complaint even after decades. The court said that women who raise their voice against such crimes cannot be punished. Akbar alleged that Ramani's tweet during the #me_too campaign has defamed him.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate(A.C.M.M.) Ravindrakumar Pandey dismissed the plea of ​​former Union Minister Akbar saying that no allegations against Ramani were proved. The court reserved the verdict on February 1. Apart from Ramani, Akbar was accused of harassment by around 20 women journalists.

Previously, Ramani accused Akbar during the Me too campaign.

ACMM, Ravindrakumar Pandey, added that this crime is shameful in the country of Ramayana-Mahabharata. He said crimes against women are shameful in a country where great texts like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana have been written, which teach women how to respect them.

Akbar rejected the allegations and had filed a complaint against Priya Ramani on October 15, 2018, for defaming him after she accused him for misconduct. However, on October 17, 2018, Akbar was accused of misconduct and had to resign as Union Minister.

No one's reputation should be protected at the cost of women's dignity-

The court said in the judgment that no one's reputation can be saved at the cost of a woman's life and dignity. Under Article 21 of the Constitution this has been guaranteed. At the same time under Article 14, the right to equality before the law and the right to equal protection have also been guaranteed.

Any invisible hindrance cannot stop Indian women from moving forward for equal opportunity in society. Now, the time has come for society to understand the hardship of sexual harassment. Society must see the victim just like any other common person and not discriminate. A victim should be able to  lead a life like a dignified person in society.