X vs AKADEMI AND ORS.

Judgment text excerpt

* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI Pronounced on: 28th August, 2025 + W.P.(C) 1103/2020, CM APPL. 11695/2023, CM APPL. 21955/2023, CM APPL. 36663/2023, CM APPL. 44573/2023, CM APPL. 47022/2023 X .....Petitioner Through: Mr. Ritin Rai, Senior Advocate with Ms. Shreya Munoth, Ms. Sitamsini Cherukumalli and Mr. Khush Aalam Singh, Advocates. versus AKADEMI AND ORS. .....Respondents Through: Ms. Geeta Luthra, Senior Advocate with Mr. Abhishek Aggarwal, Ms. Prashansika Thakur and Ms. Ishita Agarwal Advocates for R-1. Mr. Ashish K. Dixit, Mr. Shivam Tiwari, Ms. Urmila Sharma and Ms. Deepika Kalra, Advocates for R-4. Mr. Tushar Sannu and Mr. Pravin Kr. Bansal, Advocates for GNCTD. + W.P.(C) 2546/2021 AKADEMI THROUGH ITS AUTHORISED REPRESENTATIVE .....Petitioner Through: Ms. Geeta Luthra, Senior Advocate with Mr. Abhishek Aggarwal, Ms. Prashansika Thakur and Ms. Spriha Jha, Advocates. versus GNCTD AND ORS .....Respondents Through: Ms. Shreya Munoth, Ms. Sitamsini Cherukumalli and Mr. Khush Aalam Singh, Advocates for R-3. Mr. Ashish Dixit, Mr. Shivam Tiwari, Signature Not Verified Digitally Signed W.P.(C) 1103/2020 & W.P.(C) 2546/2021 Page 1 of 44 By:NITIN KAIN Signing Date:29.08.2025 17:24:25 Mr. Umar Hashmi, Ms. Urmila Sharma and Ms. Venni Kakkar, Advocates for R-4. CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA JUDGMENT SANJEEV NARULA, J.: 1. This case traces the ordeal of a woman employed on probation at the Sahitya Akademi, India’s national academy of letters. She alleges that she was subjected to sexual harassment at the hands of its Secretary. Taking the view that the Akademi’s Internal Complaints Committee1 lacked jurisdiction, she approached the Local Complaints Committee.2 Soon thereafter, while her grievance was pending consideration, her services were abruptly termi