Step 1: Background:
The "Vishakha guidelines" addressed workplace sexual harassment. Established by the Indian Supreme Court in the 1997 case Vishakha and others v. State of Rajasthan, these guidelines functioned as law until specific legislation was created.
Step 2: Elaboration:
The Vishakha guidelines focused on preventing and addressing sexual harassment of women at the workplace.
For 16 years, they served as India's primary legal framework for this issue.
In 2013, the Indian Parliament passed the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act. This Act formalized and expanded upon the Vishakha guidelines, establishing a complete legal structure.
Other related Acts address different issues: POCSO deals with child sexual abuse, the JJ Act with juvenile justice, and the PWDV Act with domestic violence.
Step 3: Conclusion:
The Sexual Harassment of Women Act 2013 is the law that developed from and legally enforced the Vishakha guidelines.