Sexual harassment charge against CPI(M) MLA; Kerala women commission chief refused to take action, says ‘mistake do happen’

After a CPI(M) MLA was accused of sexual harassament, Kerala state women’s commission chief tried to undermine the charges by calling it a 'mistake’. She also refused to take action against the accused citing lack of a formal complaint.

MC Josephine reportedly said “We are all human beings, mistakes do happen. People inside the party may also have committed such mistakes” when she was asked of taking action in the case.

Last week, MLA PK Sasi was accused of sexual harassment by a woman but the women’s commission did not initiate action in the case as no complaint was filed.

“We have not gotten any complaint. Even for suo moto case, we at least need the basic details like the nature of complaint which could be revealed either by the media or the victim themselves. In this case, that hasn’t happened. Then how can we register a case,” she further said.

However, the National Commission of Women (NCW) took up the issue. Taking cognizance of the matter, it asked the Kerala police to investigate the matter.

Josephine further said “That’s up to the party to decide. The Marxist party will have their own system of dealing with these complaints; it’s not a new thing. Since its inception, the party has handled such complaints”.

However, the CPI(M) in its statement said that it has ordered a probe into the matter and will take action against the accused.

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