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All unwelcome physical contacts not sexual harassment: Delhi HC

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New Delhi, Nov 2 (IANS) The Delhi High Court has ruled that not all unwelcome physical contacts can be categorised as sexual harassment, unless it is in the nature of “unwelcome sexually determined behaviour”.

Dismissing an appeal by a woman employee who accused one of her colleagues at the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of sexual harassment, the court upheld a decision of the Complaint Committee and the Disciplinary Authority to exonerate the man of the charge. The woman had challenged the exoneration of the man.

The woman had alleged that while she was working at the CSIR laboratory, the accused stormed inside and stopped the machine and snatched samples she was handling. He then pushed her out of the laboratory and locked it.

“… all physical contact cannot be termed as sexual harassment and only a physical contact or advances which are in the nature of an ‘unwelcome sexually determined behaviour’ would amount to sexual harassment,” Justice Vibhu Bakhru said in a judgment pronounced on Tuesday.

The Complaint Committee had accepted that there was evidence to show that the accused had held her arm, and concluded that the incident was not a sexually determined behaviour but involved “altercation in the background of the uncongenial environment prevailing in the division”.

The committee concluded that the man might have held the woman’s arm and thrown material from her hand in a fit of anger, adding that although the said incident may be a case of harassment and was deplorable, the same would not qualify as a sexual harassment. The Disciplinary Authority, set up subsequently, also concurred with the committee report.

The woman employee contended in the High Court that any unwelcome physical contact should be categorised as sexual harassment.

The High Court said: “Undoubtedly, physical contact or advances would constitute sexual harassment, provided such physical contact is a part of the sexually determined behaviour. Such physical contact must be in the context of a behaviour which is sexually oriented.”

“Similarly, a physical contact which has no undertone of a sexual nature and is not occasioned by the complainant’s gender may not necessarily amount to sexual harassment.”

–IANS
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Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok

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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.

The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.

Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.

Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.

For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.

During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.

Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.

Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .

Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.

In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.

In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.

He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.

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