Judge Who Passed 'Provocative Dress' Order In Civic Chandran's Case Transferred

The Kerala Judge who granted anticipatory bail to the writer-activist Civic Chandran and made the controversial observation that "sexual harassment case will not prima facie stand if the woman was wearing a sexually provocative dress" has been transferred.

Pursuant to the administrative Order issued by Kerala High Court on Tuesday, the erstwhile District and Sessions Judge, Kozhikode, S. Krishnakumar, has now been transferred to the post of Presiding Officer, Labour Court, Kollam.

Three other judges were also transferred by the same order.

Chandan is accused of making sexual advances toward the de facto complainant, who is a young female writer. It is alleged that he tried to outrage her modesty in a camp convened at Nandi beach. He has been booked by the Koyilandi police under Sections 354A(2), 341 and 354 of IPC.

He then moved the Court seeking anticipatory bail and produced certain photographs of the woman.

The remark sparked a massive social media outrage following which the Kerala Government moved the High Court challenging the order. and reasoning given by the Sessions Court as suffering from "illegality, lack of sensitivity, sobriety and perversity".