SC orders govts to ensure robust sexual harassment grievances panels

New Delhi: Noting that there are serious lapses in the enforcement of the 2013 Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act, the Supreme Court directed the Centre and the state governments on Friday to verify whether sexual harassment committees have been constituted in all ministries and the departments in a time bound exercise, PTI reported.

The court of Justices A S Bopanna and Hima Kohli observed that an improperly constituted sexual harassment panel would be an impediment in conducting an inquiry at the workplace, as envisaged under the statute and the rules.

The bench said that such committees are equally counterproductive, conducting half-baked inquiries that can lead to serious consequences like the imposition of major penalties on a delinquent employee.

Directing to verify the working of such committees, the court said, "It shall be ensured that necessary information regarding the constitution and composition of the committees, details of the e-mail IDs and contact numbers of the designated persons, the procedure prescribed for submitting an online complaint, as also the relevant rules, regulations and internal policies are made readily available on the website of the concerned authority/ Functionary/ Organisation/Institution/Body, as the case may be," the bench said, adding the information furnished shall also be updated from time to time.

The court was hearing a plea by Aureliano Fernandes, a former head of the department at Goa University. He was challenging a Bombay High Court order regarding allegations of sexual harassment against him.

The high court had upheld an order of the Executive Council of Goa University (Disciplinary Authority), which dismissed him from services and disqualified him from future employment.

However, the Supreme Court put aside the high court order citing procedural lapses in inquiry proceedings and violation of principles of natural justice.

Issuing a slew of directions, the top court said similar exercise should be undertaken by all the statutory bodies of professionals at the apex level and the state level (including those regulating doctors, lawyers, architects, chartered accountants, cost accountants, engineers, bankers and other professionals), by universities, colleges, training centres and educational institutions and by government and private hospitals/nursing homes.

"Immediate and effective steps shall be taken by the authorities/ managements/employers to familiarise members of the ICCs/ LCs (Local Committees)/ ICs (Internal Committees) with their duties and the manner in which an inquiry ought to be conducted on receiving a complaint of sexual harassment at the workplace, from the point when the complaint is received, till the inquiry is finally concluded and the Report submitted.

"The authorities/management/employers shall regularly conduct orientation programmes, workshops, seminars and awareness programmes to upskill members of the ICCs/LCs/ICs and to educate women employees and women's groups about the provisions of the Act, the Rules and relevant regulations," the bench said.

It directed the National Legal Services Authority(NALSA) and the State Legal Services Authorities (SLSAs) to develop modules to conduct workshops and organise awareness programmes to sensitise stakeholders and adolescent groups.

"The National Judicial Academy and the State Judicial Academies shall include in their annual calendars orientation programmes, seminars and workshops for capacity building of members of the ICCs/LCs/ICs established in the High Courts and District Courts and for drafting Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to conduct an inquiry under the Act and Rules.

"It shall be the responsibility of the Secretaries of the Ministries, Government of India and the Chief Secretaries of every State/Union Territory to ensure implementation of the directions issued."

"The Registry of the Supreme Court of India shall transmit a copy of this judgment to the Director, National Judicial Academy, Member Secretary, NALSA, Chairperson, Bar Council of India and the Registrar Generals of all the High Courts. The Registry shall also transmit a copy of this judgment to the Medical Council of India, Council of Architecture, Institute of Chartered Accountants, Institute of Company Secretaries and the Engineering Council of India for implementing the directions issued," it said.

The top court directed the Centre and all states and Union Territories to file their affidavits within eight weeks for reporting compliances.