No Justice without a Fair Hearing for Victim of Sexual Harassment in the Supreme Court!
We are activists from women’s groups and civil society members, who have, since the late 1970s, engaged with issues of justice, rights, and law reforms, specifically those related with women, sexual violence and Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace.
Today we are facing an unprecedented crisis of credibility vis-à-vis the Supreme Court. In dealing with a complaint of sexual harassment against the Chief Justice, the court has failed to give the complainant a fair hearing. Disregarding her request for a ‘special enquiry committee’, the Supreme Court instead set up an in-house Committee comprising three judges who are junior to the Chief Justice. Not surprisingly, on May 6, 2019, it declared that there is “no substance in the allegation contained in the complaint.”
We stand in solidarity with the complainant. We vehemently reject this conclusion as it has been arrived at without adherence to norms of a fair and independent enquiry. The procedure followed in this case not only stands in utter violation of principles of natural justice but also in contravention with both, the letter and spirit of Vishakha Judgment and the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act 2013 (henceforth POSH Act) that seek to recognise and mitigate disbalances of power at the workplace.
In spite of these gross violations, and completely ignoring the complainant’s appeals as well as protests from various sections of civil society as also from a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, the Committee has given a clean chit to Chief Justice of India.
We are utterly dismayed and shocked by this blatant abuse of power exercised by the highest constitutional authority, the Supreme Court of India.
We are also aware and would like to bring this to the notice of citizens of India that the complainant and her family are under threat and intimidation.
We are proponents of independence of the judiciary and understand and respect that completely. However, we also believe that pointing out any lapses in the system of justice so that it may be rectified is, in fact, protecting this independence and not interference in procedures.
We are aghast that twenty-two years after the Vishakha judgment and six years after the passing of the Act, there are no clear procedures laid down to address complaints of sexual harassment against the CJI, sitting and retired Judges of the Supreme Court. The assumption that this does not happen at this level has been belied by the recent complaints that have come up against sitting judges across the country. In any case, the judicial system needs to follow the law and lay down appropriate procedures. And in the absence of such laid out procedures, they must adhere to the spirit of the law in force. That is where the Supreme Court has currently failed itself, and the nation.
Today is a dark and sad day. The Supreme Court has told us that when it comes to one of its own, imbalances of power don’t matter, due process doesn’t matter, and basic norms of justice don’t matter. The ripple effect that this will now have across the board can well be imagined: if the guardian of the rule of law, and the institution that is supposed to be a moral exemplar to the nation, acts in this way, then why should anyone else act differently? And with what face can a court tell them to act differently, given its own conduct?
As women and other marginalized sections of society, we do not have access to any societal power and turn to Courts expecting that we can get a fair hearing there. Khap panchayats and other mechanisms that function on ideas of “social morality of the powerful” are not where we seek justice. We have kept our faith in the judicial constitutional mechanisms for access to justice.
We urge the Supreme Court to correct its own course and undo the gross injustice done to this complainant. Moreover, this case has exposed the urgent need for just, transparent and fair procedures to be laid down as soon as possible so that the highest judicial powers may also be brought into the framework of accountability to the laws of the land.
As women’s rights groups and activists, we are also issuing an open letter to retired judges appealing to them to “speak out on the side of justice and fairness. What is at stake is not only the rights of women but also the credibility of the Supreme Court. It is to protect this system that has been painstakingly created by the diligence of many members of the judiciary.” (Statement attached as Annexure)
Endorsed by about 350 feminists and feminist organisations.
A brief timeline of the case:
- On 18th April 2019, a 29-page affidavit was submitted by a woman employee of Supreme Court to the 22 judges of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, detailing allegations of the sexual harassment faced by her from none less than the Chief Justice of India. 3
- The Supreme Court called a special hearing on Saturday, 20th April 2019, through a bench consisting of two Judges besides the Chief Justice of India, against whom the allegation of sexual harassment was made. With no notice given to the aggrieved woman, CJI not only declared the allegations false but further stated that these allegations threaten the independence of the judiciary. He also declared that the complainant had a criminal background. The Attorney General of India and Solicitor General of India, the highest legal officers of the State were also present at this hearing and supported the allegations against the complainant without even hearing the complainant. The bench further asked the media to show restraint to protect the independence of the judiciary. None of these observations/opinions were based on any investigation by any competent authority.
- This was a shocking breach of procedure, wherein the person against whom the allegations were levelled, was, in fact, presiding over the ex-parte hearing. Through this hearing, the Supreme Court acted in no way different from the many accused powerful men who resort to maligning the complainant by citing past histories and by imputing ulterior motives.
- After much public protest, an in-house Committee was formed of three judges of Supreme Court headed by Justice Bobde. The constitution of this committee itself was in contravention of the spirit of the 2013 POSH Act and the guidelines laid down by the Vishakha Judgment of 1997 by the Supreme Court itself, as it neither had any external member nor was it headed by a woman. In spite of this, the complainant participated hoping to get a fair hearing.
- When this committee started the hearing, it denied the aggrieved woman right to be represented by the legal person of her choice, completely ignoring the unequal balance of power not only between the parties but also between the complainant and the Committee itself.
- The complainant had also asked for someone to accompany her because she has a hearing disability but was denied even that. This is in complete violation of the rights of people with disability enabling whose participation is critical to any imagination of a just procedure.
- After two ‘informal’ hearings with this Committee on 26th and 29th of April, the complainant withdrew from the enquiry on the 30th of April, citing that neither was she allowed representation, nor was she informed of the procedures to be followed by the committee. There was no audio or video recording of the proceeding, and further, she was not even provided minutes of the proceeding. Irrespective of these submissions the committee proceeded to hold the enquiry ex-parte.
- Finally, on May 4, 2019, she was provided with the transcripts of her statements which she returned with corrections in the morning of May 6, 2019. However, response 4 of the CJI has not been shared with her, and she is also completely unaware of the remaining process that the committee followed to arrive at their findings.
- Then on May 6, 2019, the Committee has gone ahead and declared that there is “no substance in the allegation contained in the complaint”. Further, in full violation of her right as a complainant, she has been denied a copy of the report with a reference made to a judgment that dates back to before the RTI Act and the POSH Act.
Statement issued by:
1. Saheli Women’s Resource Center, New Delhi
2. National Federation of Indian Women
3. All India Progressive Women’s Association (AIPWA)
4. Forum Against Oppression of Women, Mumbai
5. Nari Ekta Shakti Sangathan, Delhi
6. Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression
7. Nirantar, A Center for Gender and Education, New Delhi
8. North East Network, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland
9. Labia – A Queer Feminist LBT Collective Mumbai
10. Bebaak Collective
11. People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Maharashtra
12. National Alliance of People’s Movements
13. Nari Samata Manch, Pune
14. Indian Christian Women’s Movement (ICWM) – Mumbai
15. Sandhya Gokhale, Forum Against Oppression of Women, Mumbai
16. Kalpana Kannabiran, Hyderabad
17. Veena Gowda, Advocate, Mumbai
18. Adv Vasudha Nagaraj, Lawyer, High Court of Telangana, Hyderabad
19. Chayanika Shah, Queer Feminist Researcher and Activist, Mumbai
20. Nisha Biswas, Scientist and WSS, Kolkata
21. Dr Veena Shatrughna, Former Director, National Institute of Nutrition, Hyderabad
22. Vyjayanti Vasanta Mogli, Transgender RTI activist, Telangana
23. Meera Sanghamitra, National Alliance of People’s Movements, Telangana
24. Kavita Srivastava, PUCL
25. Adv. Pyoli Swatija, Supreme Court of India and WSS
26. Gautam Mody, General Secretary, New Trade Union Initiative
27. Flavia Agnes, Advocate
28. Sandhya, Progressive Association of Women, Telangana
29. V. Geetha, Historian and Writer, Chennai
30. N. Vasanti, Professor of Constitutional Law, Nalsar, Hyderabad
31. Mary E John, New Delhi
32. Uma Chakravarti, Historian, New Delhi
33. Ammu Abraham, Mumbai
34. Nandita Shah, Akshara, Mumbai
35. Meena Gopal, Mumbai
36. Hasina Khan, Mumbai
37. Shals Mahajan, Mumbai
38. Rohit Prajapati, Vadodara
39. Susie Tharu, Feminist Academic and Researcher, Avneshi, Hyderabad
40. Amit Kumar, Student, LLB, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
41. Sarah Mathews, Sankalp Women’s Support Alliance
42. Bijaya Chanda, Advocate, Alipore Court, Kolkata, West Bengal
43. Nityanand Jayaraman, Writer, Social Activist. Chennai.
44. Sumi Krishna, Former President (2005-08), Indian Association for Women’s Studies, Bengaluru
45. Kiran Shaheen, Journalist and Feminist Activist, New Delhi
46. Uma Shankari, Farmer, Researcher on Water, Environment and Livelihoods
47. Chitra, Labia, Mumbai
48. Adv Lara Jesani, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Maharashtra
49. Vandita Morarka, Founder/CEO, One Future Collective
50. Tara, Feminist Collective, Sonepat
51. Saumya Malhotra, Democracy Collective, Delhi NCR
52. Arundhati Dhuru, NAPM Lucknow, UP
53. Lovika Jaiswal, Campus Law Centre, University of Delhi, Noida
54. Leena Pujari, KC College, Mumbai
55. Vimal Bhai, National Convenor, National Alliance of People’s Movements
56. B.Girija, State Project Manager, Sakhi Telangana
57. Meena Seshu and Aarthi Pai, Sangram, Maharashtra
58. Gita Chadha, Sociologist, Mumbai
59. Shruti Chakravarty, Mental Health Practitioner, Bombay
60. Nandita Narain, Associate Professor, St Stephen’s College, Delhi University. Former President, Delhi University Teachers’ Association and Federation of Central Universities Teachers’ Associations
61. Mitra Mukherjee-Parikh, Former Head, Associate Professor, SNDTWU
62. Dr. Joseph M.T., Department of Sociology, University of Mumbai, Kalina, Mumbai
63. Rukmini Banerjee, Researcher, Mumbai
64. Kabi. S, Mumbai 5
65. Dr V Rukmini Rao, Executive Director Gramya Resource Centre for Women, Tarnaka, Secunderabad, Telangana
66. Karuna DW, Chennai
67. Padmaja Shaw
68. Purnima Gupta, Delhi
69. Khadijah Faruqui, The Alternate Space Delhi, A Women’s Collective, New Delhi
70. Tanya Jaiswal, Modern school, Noida
71. Supriya Jain, CORO India, Mumbai
72. K Ramnarayan, Uttarakhand, India
73. Kamayani Bali Mahabal, Humans Rights Activist, Mumbai
74. Bharat, Feminist Activist, Vishakha, Jaipur
75. Shahira Naim, Special Correspondent, The Tribune, Lucknow
76. Aiman Khan, Bangalore
77. Varsha Mehta
78. Roshni, Research Scholar, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
79. Pallavi Sobti Rajpal, Ahmedabad
80. Meher Bhoot, WDC, University of Mumbai, Mumbai
81. Kusumtai Chaudhari Mahila Kalyani C/o Snehja Rupwate
82. Anupama Potluri, Assistant Professor, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
83. Minakshi Sanyal, Queer feminist activist, Kolkata
84. Poushali Basak, FAOW, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
85. Anita Rego, Social Researcher
86. Smita Parmar, Social Activist, Hajipur, Bihar
87. Swabhiman Lok Seva Sansthan run by Medical Mission Sisters
88. Aruna Rodrigues, Environmental and Agro-ecology, Sunray Harvesters, MP
89. Subhasat
90. Bindu Doddahatti, Advocate, Bangalore
91. Tejaswini Madabhushi, Hyderabad for Feminism
92. A. Suneetha, Senior Fellow, Anveshi Research Center for Women’s Studies
93. Dr Asma Rasheed, Assistant Professor, EFL University
94. Sumitra Anukram, Founder of Anukram
95. Madhumita Sinha, EFL University, Hyderabad
96. Sajaya K., Independent Journalist and Social Activist, Caring Citizens Collective
97. Khalida Parveen, General Secretary Amoomat Society
98. Madhavi Mirapa, Scholar
99. Uma Bhrugubanda, EFL University, Hyderabad
100. Jayasree Subramanian, Visiting Faculty, Homi Bhabha Center for Science Education, Mumbai
101. Aileen Marques, Advocate Mumbai
102. Pratibha Shinde, Lok Sangharsh Morcha, Nandurbar, Maharashtra
103. Bittu K., Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression, Telangana Hijra Intersex Trans Samiti, Asawarpur, Haryana
104. Tara Murali, Architect, Chennai
105. Padma, Human Rights Activist
106. Samar Bagchi, Educationist and Former Director, Birla Industrial and Technological Museum, Kolkata
107. Nandini Rao, Feminist Trainer and Activist, Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression, New Delhi
108. Sandeep Pandey, Socialist Activist and NAPM, UP
109. M. Mandakini, Lawyer
110. Kondaveeti Satyavati Bhumika, Hyderabad
111. Sherin B.S.,English and Foreign Languages University
112. Lawrence, President, Inigo Foundation
113. Madhurima Majumder, Assistant Professor, Rajiv Gandhi National Institute of Youth Development
114. Shyamala Nataraj, South India AIDS Action Programme
115. Anupama J, Counselor
116. M.Sujatha, SPERDS NGO
117. Jayna Kothari, Senior Advocate
118. Bindulakshmi, Mumbai
119. Suresh Melettukochy, Bhopal
120. Jai Sen, Researcher and Editor, New Delhi
121. Shubhada Deshmukh, Mahila Arogya Parishad, Gadchiroli, Maharashtra
122. Sana Contractor, Public Health Researcher, New Delhi
123. Nandita Gandhi, Activist, Mumbai
124. Manisha Gupte, Feminist, MASUM, Pune
125. Madhu Madhavan, Ex. JJP Member, Current PhD student from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
126. Vimalbhai, Matu Jan Sangathan, Uttarakhand
127. Mamta Singh, Social Worker, Women Rights Activist, Lucknow, UP
128. Rama Melkote, Prof.(Retd) or Political Science, Senior Activist, Osmania University, Hyderabad
129. S Jeevan Kumar, Human Rights Forum
130. K Sudha, Assistant Professor, DSNLU, Member, Human Rights Forum
131. K Anuradha, Human Rights Forum
132. Janaki Nair, JNU, New Delhi
133. Sujata Patel, Indian Institute of Advanced Study
134. Sukla Sen, Mumbai
135. K. Kiran Mayee, Advocate
136. V. Naga Lakshmi, Advocate
137. Mohammed Shakeel, Advocate
138. Ranjana, Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression, Bhubaneswar
139. Kalpana Karunakaran, IIT Madras
140. Kavitha Muralidharan, Journalist, Chennai
141. Meera Velayudhan, Policy Analyst, Kochi
142. Prema Revati, Educationist
143. Rachana Mudraboyina, Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti
144. Vasudha Katju, Researcher, New Delhi
145. Aisha Farooqui, Prof. (Retd) Osmania University
146. Swathy Margaret, Researcher
147. S. Ashalatha, Social Activist
148. Radhika Khajuria, New Delhi
149. Purwa Bharadwaj, Delhi
150. Ketki Ranade, Mumbai
151. Asha Achuthan, Mumbai
152. Vineeta Bal, Pune
153. Anjali Rawat, Law Researcher
154. Anubha Rastogi, Lawyer, Mumbai
155. Madhu Bhushan
156. Aatreyee Sen, Forum for Human Rights and Justice, Himachal Pradesh
157. Pragya Joshi, PUCL, Udaipur
158. Dr. Albertina Almeida, Advocate, Goa.
159. Vennela Madabhushi, Lawyer, Bangalore 6
160. Anuradha Pati, Development Professional
161. Soma KP, Independent Research Scholar
162. Lata Singh, JNU
163. Urmilla Chandran, Principal Technical Writer
164. Kaneez Fatima, Activist and Librarian
165. Kalyani Menon-Sen, Feminist Learning Partnerships
166. Masooma Ranalvi, We SpeakOut
167. Srinivas Vellikad, Senior Manager, Documentation.
168. S. Seethalakshmi, Researcher
169. Lakshmi Lingam, Professor, Mumbai
170. Sunkara Rajendra Prasad, Advocate, Vijayawada
171. Vahida Nainar, Mumbai
172. Laxmi Murthy, Journalist, Bangalore
173. Jayasree.A K., Professor, Community Medicine, Govt. Medical College, Kannur, Kerala
174. Shaitan Singh, Law Student, Visakhapatnam
175. Anjana Ramanathan, Advocate
176. Piyoli Swatija, Advocate
177. VS Krishna, Human Rights Forum
178. Smita Gupta, New Delhi
179. Geeta Seshu, Journalist
180. Lakshmi Krishnamurthy
181. Reva Yunus, Azim Premji University
182. Ritu Dewan, Vice President at Indian Society of Labour Economics
183. Sarojini.N, New Delhi
184. Brinelle D’souza, TISS
185. Deeptha Achar, Professor, Baroda
186. Shilpaa Anand, BITS- Pilani, Hyderabad campus
187. Shefali Jha, University of Hyderabad
188. M. Madhavi, Assistant Professor, Presidency University, Bangalore
189. Kumar Shubham Raj, Advocate, Bihar
190. Bushra Quasmi, Asst Prof, DSNLU, Visakhapatnam
191. B Syama Sundari, Dastakar Andhra
192. Abha Bhaiya, Jagori
193. Ambika Tandon, New Delhi
194. Anandhi.S, Researcher, Chennai
195. Shalini Gera, Advocate, Bilaspur High Court
196. Govind Kelkar, Senior Advisor – Women, Land & Productive Assets
197. Sharmila Sreekumar, IIT, Bangalore
198. PV Srividya, Journalist, Krishnagiri
199. K. Katyayani, Prof (Retd), Kakatitya University, Warangal
200. Deepa V health Activist, Delhi
201. Sunita Sheel, Forum for Medical Ethics Society, Mumbai; Vidhayak Trust, Pune
202. Anuradha Kapoor, Kolkata
203. Veena Johari, Advocate, Mumbai
204. Mumtaz Sheikh, CORO Mahila Mandal federation Mumbai
205. Rohini Hensman, Writer & Researcher
206. Dr Sagari R Ramdas, Veterinary Scientist
207. Tashi Choedup, Buddhist Monastic, Human Rights Activist
208. Aditi Joshi, Mumbai
209. Amarjit Singh, Mumbai
210. Kaveri Dadhich, Mumbai
211. Padma, Independent Researcher , Mumbai
212. Shakun Doundiyakhed, Ooty
213. R. Alphonso, Mumbai
214. Neha Singh, Mumbai
215. Shewli Kumar, Mumbai
216. Bharati Kapadia, Mumbai
217. Bindhulakshmi Pattadath, Mumbai
218. Catrinel Dunca, Ahmedabad
219. Nirja Vasavada, Ahmedabad
220. Shumona Goel
221. Mani A., Kolkata
222. Kamaxi Bhate, Mumbai
223. Mridul Dudeja, Mumbai
224. Rakhi Sehgal, Labour Activist, New Delhi
225. Gayatri, Faculty, TISS, Hyderabad
226. Abhiti Gupta, Legal Activist, New Delhi
227. Maneka Khanna, Advocate, Delhi
228. Surabhi Dhar, Advocate, Delhi
229. Zeba Sikora, Advocate, Mumbai
230. Rupali Samuel, Advocate, Delhi
231. Payoshi Roy, Advocate, Mumbai
232. Archit Krishna, Advocate, Chattisgarh
233. Satnam Kaur, New Delhi
234. Reethika Ravikumar, Mumbai
235. Mini Mathew, Advocate, Mumbai
236. Sadhna Arya, University of Delhi
237. Fatima N, Tamil Nadu
238. Poorva Rajaram, Researcher, New Delhi
239. Vanessa Chishti, Jindal Law University, Sonipat
240. Esther Moraes, New Delhi
241. Niti Saxena, Lawyer, Researcher, and Activist, Lucknow
242. Tusharika Mattoo, Advocate, Delhi
243. Maulshree Pathak, Advocate Delhi
244. Shreya Munoth, Advocate, Delhi
245. Sayali Kadu, Advocate, Delhi
246. Shuchi Dwivedi, Advocate, Delhi
247. Rhea Goyal, Advocate, Delhi
248. Sowjhanya Shankaran, Advocate, Delhi
249. Anushree Malviya, Advocate, Delhi
250. Sonal Sarda, Advocate, Delhi
251. Sanya Kumar, Advocate, Delhi
252. Shreya Rastogi, Advocate, Delhi
253. Harshita Reddy, Advocate, Delhi
254. Sanjana Srikumar, Advocate, Delhi
255. Avantika, Advocate Delhi
256. Ninni Susan Thomas, Advocate Delhi
257. Nidhi Rao Gummuluru, Advocate, Delhi
258. Vasundhara Majithia, Advocate Delhi
259. Meghana Sengupta, Advocate Delhi
260. Shailiza Sharma, Advocate, Delhi High Court
261. Kanika Sood, Advocate Delhi
262. Kruti Venkatesh, Advocate, Bombay High Court
263. Bhavana Sunder, Advocate, Bombay High Court
264. Rhea Jha, Advocate, Bombay High Court
265. Devyani Kulkarni, Advocate, High Court, Bombay
266. Khusboo Agarwal, Bombay
267. Sara Ahmed, Bombay
268. Surabhi Singh, Advocate, High Court at Bombay
269. Ronita Bhattacharya, Advocate, High Court, Bombay
270. Jahnavi Vishwanath, Chennai
271. Janaki Abraham, Delhi University
272. Dimple Oberoi Vahali
273. Vandana Mahajan, A Feminist Practitioner
274. Lalita Ramdas, Educator and Citizen, Alibag, Maharashtra
275. Chitra Sinha, Centre for Gender Research, Uppsala University, Sweden
276. Vasudha Sawaiker, Social Justice Action Committee, Goa
277. Amita Kanekar, Writer, Goa
278. Adsa Fatima, Health Activist, Delhi
279. Dr Mira Shiva
280. Dr. Saswati Ghosh, Academic and Activist, Kolkata
281. Amita Pitre, Consultant, Public Health and Gender Justice, Mumbai
282. Gayatri Singh, Senior Advocate, Bombay High Court
283. Bindhulakshmi, Mumbai
284. Radhika Desai, Hyderabad
285. Ritu Menon, New Delhi
286. Shraddha Chickerur, Hyderabad
287. Svati Joshi, Ahmedabad
288. Aruna Burte, Pune
289. Malavika Karlekar, New Delhi
290. Sujata Gothoskar, Trade Union Activist, Mumbai
291. Nalini Nair, SEWA, Kerala
292. Sangeeta Chatterji, FAOW
293. Nisha, National Convenor, WSS
294. Ajita, National Convenor, WSS
295. Shalini, National Convenor, WSS
296. Rinchin, National Convenor, WSS
297. Hiranmay Karlekar, New Delhi
298. Rina Mukerji, Independent Journalist
299. Vibhuti Patel, Mumbai
300. Kavita Krishnan, AIPWA, New Delhi
301. Swarna Rajgopalan, Chennai
302. Chittaroopa Palit, Madhya Pradesh
303. Bondita Acharya, Human Rights Activist, Assam
304. Bela Bhatia, Bastar
305. AI Sharada, Laadli, Population First
306. Amit Mitra, New Delhi
307. Sujata Mody, National Secretary, New Delhi Trade Union Initiative
308. M. Dilli, Joint Secretary, Garment and Fashion Workers Union, Chennai
309. Anju Talukdar, Independent law and development professional, New Delhi
310. Vidha Saumya, Visual Artist, Oshiwara, Mumbai
311. Jasveen Jairath, Consultant, Water and Ecology, Concerned Citizens, Hyderabad
312. Shreya Suresh, Advocate, Bangalore
313. Sowmya Khandelwal, Associate at a Law Firm, Bangalore
314. M.V. Swaroop, Advocate, Madras High Court
315. Tashi Choedip, Queer Buddhist Activist, Bodhgaga, Bihar
316. Mangla Verma, Advocate, New Delhi
317. Chitra Narayan, Advocate, Chennai
318. Anusha Ramanathan, Visiting Faculty, University of Mumbai, Consultant, TISS
319. Richa, Humsafar, Lucknow
320. Sunila Singh, Woman Human Rights Defender, New Delhi
321. Zainab, Humsafar, Lucknow
322. Afroz Jahan, Humsafar, Lucknow
323. Anurekha, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad
324. Lalita, National Alliance of Women’s Organizations, Odisha
325. Sister Lissy Joseph, National Domestic Workers Movement, Hyderabad
326. Nikhat Fatima, Journal Activist
327. Vasundhara Vedula, Mumbai
328. Swatija Manorama, Mumbai
329. Amrita Howlader, Kolkata
330. Nazia Akhter, Hyderabad
331. Swarup Beria, Guwahati
332. Arpita Jaya, Quill Foundation
333. Sheela Rahulan, Vanithakalasahithi, Trivandrum
334. Dr. Iris Koileo, Associate Professor (Retd.), St. Xavier’s College, Women Writers Group, Vinimaya, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
335. Rita Manchanda
336. Noella de Souza
337. Jeevika Shiv, Lawyer
338. Suroor Mander
339. Angbin Yasmin, New Delhi
340. Sujata Surepally, Hyderabad
\341. Pushpesh Kumar, Hyderabad
342. Simrita Gopal Singh, Pune
343. Suneeta Dhar, Delhi
344. Chanda Asani, Jaipur
345. Saumya Uma, Delhi
346. Debika Chakravarty, Mumbai
347. Supriya Jan, CORO India, Mumbai
348. Huma Ghosh
349. Amrita Nandy
350. Deepti Sharma, New Delhi