The Supreme Court has dismissed a workplace harassment case filed by a female employee against her colleagues, citing it as an overreach aimed at twisting an employment dispute into a criminal matter.
In a strong rebuke, the Court observed that the proceedings reflected an attempt to “reclassify a non-cognizable issue as cognizable” to pressure the accused into a settlement. The bench, comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Prashant Kumar Mishra, highlighted that such tactics undermine the legal system.
The employee alleged coercion to resign under threat of dismissal, confiscation of personal belongings, verbal and physical harassment, and unauthorized seizure of intellectual property from her company laptop. The charges included violations under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, including criminal intimidation and insulting the modesty of a woman.
However, after reviewing the complaint, FIR, and chargesheet, the Court concluded that none of the allegations met the necessary criteria to constitute these offenses. The judgment noted, “The complaint lacks even the basic facts required to establish an offense, even when taken at face value.”
The Court criticized the complainant’s intentions, labeling the case a “malicious attempt to exact revenge, inflict harm, or force a settlement.” Consequently, the criminal proceedings against the employees were quashed, marking the end of a contentious legal battle.
