Bombay High Court Rules Singing About Woman Colleague’s Hair Not Sexual Harassment
The Bombay High Court has ruled that making sarcastic comments and singing about a woman colleague's hair does not constitute sexual harassment. The court provided relief to Vinod Kachave, a senior officer at HDFC Bank, who was facing allegations related to an incident that occurred in June 2022.
According to the case details, Kachave allegedly made a sarcastic remark about a female colleague’s hair, saying it looked as if it was combed with a “poclain” (excavator) and even sang a song referring to her hair. The woman reported the incident to the bank’s Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), which subsequently investigated the matter.
Furthermore, the woman alleged that Kachave had previously made inappropriate remarks about a male colleague’s private parts in the presence of female employees. After investigation, the ICC concluded that Kachave’s actions amounted to misconduct.
Kachave appealed the decision in the Pune Industrial Court, which ruled against him last year. As a result, HDFC Bank management downgraded his position from Associate Regional Manager at the Pune branch.
Seeking further relief, Kachave approached the Bombay High Court, which ruled in his favor. The court stated that making a sarcastic remark and singing about a woman colleague’s hair could not be considered sexual harassment, thereby clearing him of all charges.
