SUPREME COURT ORDER: MANDATE HOSPITALS, SPORTS INSTITUTES, AND STADIUMS TO ESTABLISH INTERNAL COMPLAINTS COMMITTEES TO REPORT SEXUAL HARASSMENT

SUPREME COURT ORDER: MANDATE HOSPITALS, SPORTS INSTITUTES, AND STADIUMS TO ESTABLISH INTERNAL COMPLAINTS COMMITTEES TO REPORT SEXUAL HARASSMENT

By- Rahul Prasad 

Applying the Principle of Zero Tolerance to Sexual Harassment, Supreme Court Directed District Administration and local complaint Committees should be trained regarding the nature of sexual harassment. Under (Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act ) 

Justice S Ravindra Bhat and Justice Dipankar Datta in a PIL(Writ petition) filed by NGO Initiatives for Inclusive Foundation gave directions to Central governments and all state governments to take steps for implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition, and Redressal) Rules, 2013 (one of Sustainable Development Goal, Goal 5, Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women)

 
Direction By Court For Better Implementation

Ensure uniformity of implementation of the act across the country.

·  The Ministry of Women and Child Development should identify a Nodal person within the department for proper implementation of the POSH Act in every STs and UTs.

The Principal Secretary of STs/UTs and The Central Government will personally ensure the appointment of a District officer in each District within their Territorial Jurisdiction (Within 4 weeks of Judgment).

Circular/Bulletin should contain. - Name, contact details, address, and Email District of Various nodal officer and their contact details shall be available Online.

District officers and LCs should be trained to be sensitized to the Nature of Sexual Harassment that occursinthe workplace.

·  STs, UTs, and The Central government should set up financial resource allocation for training and spreading awareness of the essentials of this act.

·  Central Government shall ensure handbooks for implementation of the POSH Act circulated among District and remote Areas.

·     STs, UTs and the Central government should create a standard operating procedure.

·  The Supreme Court Bench Directed that all STs/UTs have to submit a consolidated report of compliance with the Court's direction to the Central Government.(Within 8 Weeks)

·  Supreme Government stated that the Central Government may amend(the Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, as needed

Heard again in Feb,2024.