Four -member committee of retired judges to hold public hearings on MeToo cases : Maneka Gandhi
New Delhi, Oct 12 (IBNS) : Union Women & Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said on Friday that a Government-appointed four-member committee of retired judges will conduct public hearings of cases of sexual assault and harassment, being publicised as part of the #MeToo movement in India, media reports said.
The announcement was made by the Ministry of Women and Child Development through twitter handle.
"The Ministry will be setting up a committee of senior judicial & legal persons as members to examine all issues emanating from the #MeTooIndia movement. #DrawTheLinepic.twitter.com/PiujKUXQVz
Reacting to the charges of sexual harassment levelled against junior Foreign Minister M J Akbar, the WCD Minister said earlier this week that sex harassment complaints should be allowed even 10-15 years later. She also said she was happy that the #MeToo campaign has encouraged women to speak about crimes committed against them.
"You will always remember the person who did it, which is why we have written to the Law Ministry that complaints should be without any time limit," she said on Monday.
"You can now complain 10-15 years later, doesn't matter how much later. If you're going to complain the avenue is still open," she said, adding that "anger at sexual molestation never goes away".
The #MeToo movement in India virtually started after alegations of former actor Tanushree Dutta against veteran actor Nana Patekar. Dutta accused Patekar of harassing her on the sets of a film 10 years ago.
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