In the judgment for a recent case, the Delhi High Court observed that the well-being of a child with a vulnerable mental psyche has to be prioritized as childhood sexual harassment has insurmountable long-term effects. The court made the observations as it dismissed a physics teacher′s appeal, accused of sexual harassment and molestation of a ninth-grade girl, and upheld the penalty of compulsory retirement.

The bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad stated that an act of sexual harassment has the potential to cause mental trauma to the child and may dictate their thought process for years to come. It can hinder the normal social growth of the child and lead to various psychosocial problems that may require psychological intervention.

In the appeal, the teacher challenged a single judge′s order, stating that the judge failed to recognize that the inquiry against him was conducted in violation of the principles of natural justice and that the composition of the inquiry committee was not as per the law.

However, the Delhi HC rejected the argument. The judges stated that the court cannot find any fault in the judgment given by a single judge. Additionally, they added that the court does not find any reason to interfere with the orders passed by the disciplinary authority, the tribunal, and the learned single judge.