The Supreme Court of Pakistan has issued a landmark ruling requiring educational institutions nationwide to strengthen anti-harassment measures and provide safer workplaces for female teachers.

The judgment was delivered by a two-member bench comprising Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Musarrat Hilali. The court emphasized that institutions failing to address harassment risk creating an environment where abuse of authority is tolerated and victims are discouraged from reporting misconduct.

The bench declared that sexual harassment of female teachers by male colleagues is a serious offence that violates the law, professional ethics, personal dignity, and workplace safety standards.

To ensure better protection, the court ordered all educational institutions to adopt clear anti-harassment policies and establish effective reporting systems. It also directed schools, colleges, and universities to create in-house inquiry committees where female teachers can safely submit complaints.

The ruling further instructed the Ministry of Education to ensure that anti-harassment codes of conduct are prominently displayed in educational institutions across the country. Copies of the judgment have been sent to federal and provincial authorities, including education departments and ombudsmen, to ensure proper implementation.

The court noted that inappropriate remarks, sexually suggestive messages, unwanted physical contact, catcalling, and demands for favors in exchange for workplace benefits are all forms of unlawful conduct.

The judgment was issued in a case involving harassment allegations against a Grade-17 official at the Government Special Education Centre in Faisalabad. Legal experts have described the decision as a significant step toward strengthening workplace protections and accountability in Pakistan’s education sector.