Wed Jan 08 08:41:17 UTC 2025: ## Kerala High Court Upholds Sexual Harassment Conviction Based on “Body Structure” Comment
**Kochi, January 8, 2025** – The Kerala High Court has ruled that a comment on a woman’s “body structure” constitutes sexual harassment, upholding a case against a former Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) employee. Justice A. Badharudeen dismissed the employee’s plea to quash the charges.
The woman alleged that the accused used vulgar language and sent objectionable messages and voice calls from 2013, escalating in 2016-17 despite complaints to the KSEB and police. The accused was charged under Sections 354A (sexual harassment), 509 (insulting modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, and Section 120(o) of the Kerala Police Act (causing nuisance through communication).
The accused argued that a comment about a “nice body structure” did not constitute a sexually coloured remark. However, the court agreed with the prosecution and the woman, finding that the messages and calls contained sexually coloured remarks intended to harass and outrage her modesty. The court stated that the prosecution’s case established a prima facie case for the charges. The court’s January 6th order dismissed the accused’s plea and vacated any interim orders.
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