XY’s letter to Z
To
Editor-in-chief
February 18, 2003
Sir,
A member of the Network of Women Journalists, , a former employee of , has complained to us on February 9th, 2003, that she had been repeatedly sexually harassed by , the , while she was working there.
Since she resisted the sexual overtures, Mr started to harass her professionally, as is the pattern with most sexual harassment cases in the workplace. Mr also insisted that she resign from her services if she did not comply with his advances. Ms ’s services were eventually terminated in October, 2002.
For , who has worked with reputed newspaper houses, it was the first experience of its kind in a career spanning 15 years. It has taken her months to come to terms with and address this trauma. After being dismissed from , she had even contemplated suicide and had to take recourse to psychological counselling to overcome her depression.
As is the pattern with most women who face sexual harassment in the workplace by male peers and seniors, it takes months, sometimes years, to verbalise or confront the injustice and articulate it. It means not only coming out of denial, but also taking on the added pressure of social stigma and the intimidation from institutional power structures.
Perhaps this continuous injustice would not have reached such proportions in a media house like that has historically shown sensitivity to the issue of human rights, had a Sexual Harassment Complaints Committee been in place, as per the Supreme Court Guidelines of August 13, 1997. This would have emboldened to speak up earlier and seek justice.
We are certain that if you had some knowledge of this incident, then something as unjust as this would not have happened in . We have felt the need to bring this to your notice with the hope that justice will be done and the human dignity of the journalist restored as is expected of a media house of repute.
Yours Sincerely,
Co-ordinators
Network
[Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 07.05.2026 to reflect a settlement between affected parties.]
