Overview
- A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked Registrars General of high courts to detail whether gender sensitisation panels and Internal Complaints Committees exist in high courts, district courts, tribunals and bar associations.
- The order specifies protections for women and transgender persons and seeks reports on mechanisms to address sexual harassment complaints across judicial institutions.
- Petitioner Geeta Rani, represented by senior advocate Sonia Mathur, flagged gaps including seven high courts lacking regulations or ICCs and shortfalls in district courts in Patna, Jharkhand, Punjab, Haryana and Delhi.
- The Supreme Court issued notice and will examine the status reports once filed, with further directions to follow after review.
- In a separate proceeding on POSH Act enforcement, a different bench directed states and union territories to complete compliance steps, sought responses in three weeks, and asked the Centre to publicise the She-Box complaint portal.