Kerala Judge who made 'sexually provocative dresses' remark transferred

Kozhikode, Kerala: Kozhikode District and Sessions judge S Krishnakumar, who had made controversial observations in his orders while granting bail to an accused in two sexual harassment cases, has been transferred as Presiding Officer of Labour Court in Kollam.

The judge's observations while granting anticipatory bail to writer and social activist Civic Chandran in two alleged sexual harassment cases had sparked outrage in Kerala, prompting the state government to appeal to the high court against the district court's verdict.

In the first case related to Chandran's alleged attempt to kiss a Dalit writer forcibly in April, Krishnakumar granted bail saying it is highly unbelievable that the accused will touch the complainant knowing she comes from a Scheduled Caste background.

Krishnakumar pulled up the complainant for "an attempt to tarnish the status of the accused", who is "fighting against the caste system". He called the accused a reformist.

In the second case, he cited the photographs produced along with Chandran's bail application and added they show the "complainant is herself exposing to dresses which are having some sexual provocative one.

Krishnakumar added even admitting there was physical contact, it is impossible to believe that a man aged 74 and physically disabled can forcefully put the complainant in his lap and sexually press her private part.

.The National Commission for Women and activists deplored Krishnakumar's comments.