Kerala Govt Moves HC Against Lower Court's Observation Of 'Sexually Provocative' Dress

Civic Chandran's Bail Petition: Kerala govt submitted a plea that said, "findings of Court are, per se, illegal, unjust and have the effect of potentially exposing survivor to secondary trauma."  

Kerala High Court

Chennai: Kerala government moved Kerala High Court challenging the anticipatory bail granted to author Civic Chandran in a sexual harassment case. The Kerala government approached the Court after the bail created controversy since the Kozhikode Sessions Court said that 'sexual harassment will not prima facie stand if a woman is wearing a sexually provocative dress’ in a petition filed by a Dalit writer. 

In a tweet, ANI said, "Kerala government approached Kerala HC challenging the anticipatory bail granted to activist Civic Chandran in a sexual harassment case."

"The state government submitted plea stating, "findings of Court are, per se, illegal, unjust and have the effect of potentially exposing survivor to secondary trauma," it said. 

Further, ANI quoting Kerala government's petition said, "Conclusion drawn by Kozhikode Sessions Court amounts to infringement of the personal liberty of the victim and a violation of the right to life guaranteed under Article 21. The court flouted all guidelines issued by SC and granted pre-arrest bail to accused."

Kerala govt approached Kerala HC challenging the anticipatory bail granted to activist Civic Chandran in sexual harassment case. State govt submitted plea stating, "findings of Court are, per se, illegal, unjust & have effect of potentially exposing survivor to secondary trauma." https://t.co/Uqak8Vu6a7

— ANI (@ANI) August 23, 2022

On August 12, Sessions Court granted anticipatory bail to Civic Chandran in the sexual harassment case. In the observation, the court said,  "Even admitting that there was physical contact, it is impossible to believe that a man, aged 74, and physically disabled can forcefully put the defacto complainant in his lap."

The Dalit writer had moved court by alleging that writer Chandran sexually assaulted her during a poetry camp near Nandi beach in Kozhikode in 2020.