The Supreme Court on Friday (August 1, 2025) allowed petitioner-advocate MG Yogamaya to withdraw a petition challenging the exclusion of women political workers from the ambit of protection under the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 or POSH Act.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai said the petitioner could take other necessary steps in accordance with the law.
The petition contends that there is no rational or intelligible differentia to exclude women in politics from protections available to women in other professions.
The plea, represented by senior advocate Shobha Gupta, said the definitions of ‘workplace’ and ‘employer’ under the 2013 Act must be expanded to include the political spectrum.
“Despite the Act’s progressive intent, women political workers, particularly at the grassroots, remain vulnerable to sexual exploitation during campaigns and party work, with no effective legal remedy under the existing legislative framework,” it said.
