In 2018 journalist Priya Ramani came out with an accusation of sexual harassment against the then Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar. This was the time that women were speaking out about sexual harassment; part of the #MeToo movement both globally and in India. At least 16 women have come out publicly with allegations of harassment and abuse in the workplace against Akbar.
M J Akbar had responded by rubbishing Ramani’s allegations and filing a defamation suit against Priya Ramani on 15th October 2018. Akbar has famously had on his side a powerful battery of 97 lawyers. On 17 February, a Delhi court acquitted Ramani and held her not-guilty of criminal defamation. The fact that Ramani’s statements were based on truth and that they were made for the public good, swayed the matter in her favour. The testimony of Ghazala Wahab, one of the women who suffered at the hands of Akbar was also one of the keys to this verdict.
Criminal defamation which carries a jail term (as opposed to civil defamation), is often used as an intimidation tactic by the powerful to silence their opponents. Ramani feels that this judgement will give courage to more women to speak out against their harassers and abusers. She points out, though it was she who had suffered sexual harassment at the hands of M J Akbar, she was the accused in this matter.
In matters of sexual harassment, there are several hurdles to women speaking out against men: usually, the men are in positions of power while the women are in subordinate roles. In cases of workplace abuse and harassment the women have the most to lose: is it likely they will be disbelieved and could stand to lose their positions. Women also hesitate to speak up because they worry that their families would insist upon their leaving their jobs, as was the case with Ramani.
There is a stigma around women who speak out; victim-blaming is a significant deterrent to women speaking out. Women are also typically made to feel shame when calling out predators because it is then their own behaviour that is questioned, their own character that is put in the dock so to speak.
The verdict sends out the message strongly, that “women cannot be punished for raising her voice against sex abuse”. This is a powerful indictment against men who behave with impunity, using their positions to get away with their crimes and misdemeanours.
It is now becoming increasingly clear that women will demand and expect safe working places and that those in positions of power will not find it so easy to prey on them. Predators will no longer be able to count on victims and subordinates maintaining a fearful silence that has hitherto let those predators get away with unacceptable behaviour. Men are having to reeducate themselves about what is and isn't acceptable behaviour; so that workplaces become places that are safer for women and very importantly, where women feel safe.
Another hugely important aspect of this verdict is the timeline. This addresses one of the questions that victim-shamers/blamers often ask – why did you not speak up then? The court observed that a woman has the right to make known her grievance even decades after the incident(s); that the mental trauma could prevent a person from speaking up at the time. There are many reasons women (and men) feel unable to speak up against their abusers at the time. There is the fear of punishment and retribution, the humiliation of being disbelieved, antiquated notions of protecting ‘family honour’, and many other reasons.
People across the board have welcomed the Priya Ramani judgement. It is felt that the verdict will have a salutary impact: encouraging victims to speak out and (hopefully) discouraging predatory behaviour in the workplace too.
Do you have something interesting you would like to share? Write to us at [email protected]
