Jammu, Feb 12 (NationPress) The High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh has, on Thursday, issued an order establishing a committee dedicated to gender sensitisation and addressing issues related to sexual harassment affecting both women and transgender individuals.

An announcement from the Registrar General of the High Court stated, "In accordance with the instructions provided by the Supreme Court of India in writ petition (Civil) No 1245/2025, titled Geeta Rani Vs. Union of India and others, the Chief Justice has directed that the existing Sexual Harassment Probe Committee, which was initially formed through a High Court order dated November 29, 2025, will now also focus on preventing and resolving complaints of sexual harassment involving transgender individuals, alongside its current responsibilities."

The investigation for the Jammu wing will be overseen by Justice Sindhu Sharma (Chairperson), with co-opted members including senior advocates Sema Khajuria Sekhar and Deepika Mahajan; Rimpash Sangotra, Law Officer of the Social Welfare Department; and Prem Sadotra, Advocate Secretary of the Committee, who will also serve as the Presenting Officer.

For the Srinagar wing, Justice Moksha Khajuria Kazmi will chair, with co-opted members including senior advocates Nazir Ahmad Beigh, Masooda Jan, Naseema Hassan Bagal, Saima Maqbool, Deputy Registrar; and Naveed Mir, advocate secretary of the High Court legal committee, who will also act as the presenting officer," the order elaborated.

The Gender Sensitisation and Internal Complaints Committee (GSICC) operates under the 2016 regulations aimed at Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal.

The committees consist of a Chairperson, Senior Advocates, and representatives from the Social Welfare Department.

A specific committee for the Jammu wing, chaired by Justice Sindhu Sharma as of early 2026, is tasked with handling complaints of sexual harassment involving women and transgender persons.

The Jammu and Kashmir Judicial Academy is proactive in arranging workshops for judicial officers, lawyers, and staff on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act (POSH Act), the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and tackling gender stereotypes to promote a gender-sensitive approach in legal processes.

These regulations are applicable to both the High Court and subordinate courts in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.

The goal of the committee is to foster a workplace devoid of gender bias, utilizing specialized training, such as the "Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes", to eliminate biased language in judicial orders.