Inter-Ministerial group to review draft Bill on Protection of Women from sexual harassment

Ministry of Women & Child Development has constituted an inter-ministerial group to review the provisions of the draft Bill on ‘Protection of Women’ against sexual harassment at workplace. The group has been asked to examine and find tune the draft Bill by 20th January 2010, so that the Bill can be finalized as early as possible for further necessary action.

The group will be chaired by Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Women & Child Development and it will have the representatives from the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Health & Family Welfare, Railways, Information & Broadcasting, Home Affairs, Labour & Employment, Department of Personnel, Planning Commission, Law & Justice, Department of Post. Member Secretary NCW will also be member of the group.

The Ministry of Women & Child Development, in consultation with the National Commission for Women and other stake holders, has prepared a draft Bill, which seeks to cover students, research scholars also beside those working in unorganized sector to check the sexual harassment at work place. The group will review the provisions of the draft Bill specially keeping also in view the judgment of Supreme Court in the cases of Visakha and others etc.

Women employees allege harassment at workplace

Women employees of Balaji Wafers today took out a rally in protest against the alleged sexual harassment at work place.

In a memorandum submitted to the district collector H S Patel, they alleged that eve teasing and harassment of women employees had become a daily routine in the company.

When they approached management with complaints, they were allegedly misbehaved and insulted, the memorandum said.

The women employees have been on strike for last three days and have warned not to resume work until action is taken by the management in this regard.

They have the support of CPI-M in their protest.

Patel could not be contacted for his comment.
Source: PTI

CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 - Guidelines regarding prevention of sexual harassment

No. 11013/3/2009-Esst.(A)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

(Department of Personnel & Training)

North Block, New Delhi
Dated the 7th August, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 - Guidelines regarding prevention of sexual harassment of working women in the workplace.

In continuation of the Department of Personnel and Training's O.M. of even number dated the 21st July, 2009 on the abovementioned subject, the undersigned is directed to say that the following may be substituted for the existing instructions in para 1 (v) thereof :-

"(v) The Complaints Committee established in each Ministry or Department or Office for inquiring into complaints of sexual harassment shall be deemed to be the Inquiring Authority appointed by the Disciplinary Authority and the Complaints Committee shall hold, if separate procedure has not been prescribed for the Complaints Committee for holding the inquiry into such complaints, the inquiry, as far as practicable in accordance with the procedure laid down in the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 [In 2004 a proviso was added to rule 14(2) of the said rules.(copy enclosed) to this effect]."

2. The number of the last para of the O.M. under reference may be read as (2) in place of (3)

PROVISIONS OF Rule 14 (2) of the CENTRAL CIVIL SERVICES
(CLASSIFICATION,CONTROLAND APPEAL) RULES,1965

14 (2) Whenever the disciplinary authority is of the opinion that there are grounds for inquiring into the truth of any imputation of misconduct Of. misbehavior against a Government servant, it may itself inquire into, or appoint under this rule or under the provisions of the Public Servants (Inquiries) Act, 1850, as the case may be, an authority to inquire into the truth thereof.

Provided that where there is a complaint of sexual harassment within the meaning of rule 3 C of the Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964, the complaints Committee established in each ministry or Department or Office for inquiring into such complaints, shall be deemed to be the inquiring authority appointed by the disciplinary authority for the purpose of these rules and the Complaints Committee shall hold, if separate procedure has not been prescribed for the complaints committee for holding the inquiry into the complaints of sexual harassments, the inquiry as far as practicable in accordance with the procedure laid down in these rules.

Guidelines regarding prevention of sexual harassment of working women in the workplace.

No.11013/3/2009-Estt. (A)

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

(Department of Pension & Pensioners'Welfare)

Lok Nayak Bhawan,New Delhi-110003
dated the 21st July, 2009

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 - Guidelines regarding prevention of sexual harassment of working women in the workplace.

The undersigned is directed to refer to Department of Personnel and Training's O.M. No. 11013/10/97-Estt. (A) dated 13.02:1998 and 13.07.1999, O.M. No. 11013/11/2001-Estt. (A) dated 12.12.2002 and 04.08.2005 and O.M. No. 11013/312009-Estt. (A) dated 02.02.2009 on the abovementioned subject and to say that it is necessary to have in place at all times an effective Complaint Mechanism for dealing with cases of sexual harassment of working women and to create awareness in this regard, particularly amongst working women. The Salient features of the Complaint Mechanism and inquiry procedure are as follows”>

(i) Rule 3 C of the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 provides that no Government servant shall indulge in any act of sexual harassment of any women at her work place. Every Government servant who is in charge of a work. Place shall take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment to any woman at such work place."Sexual harassment" includes such unwelcome sexually determined behaviour,whether directly or otherwise, as --

(a) physical contact and advances;
(b) demand or request for sexual favours;
(c) sexually coloured remarks;
(d) showing any pornography; or./-
(e) any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.

(ii) Whether or not such conduct constitutes an offence under law or a breach of the service rules, an appropriate complaint mechanism should be created in the employer’s organization for redress of the complaint made by the victim. Such complaint mechanism should ensure time bound treatment of complaints.

(iii) The complaint mechanism should be adequate to provide, where necessary, a Complaints Committee, a special councellor or other support service, including the maintenance of confidentiality.

The Complaints Committee should be headed by a woman and not less than half of its member should be women. Further to prevent the possibility of any undue pressure or influence from senior levels, such Complaints Committee should involve a third party, either NGO or other body who is familiar with the issue of sexual harassment.
The Complaints Committee must make an annual report to the Government department concerned of the complaints and action taken by them.

The employers and person in charge will also report on the compliance with the aforesaid guidelines including on the reports of the Complaints Committee to the Government department.

(iv). The Committee constituted for redressal of the complaints by the victims of sexual harassment shoulq be headed by an officer sufficiently higher in rank so as to lend credibility to the investigations.

(v) The Complaints Committee established in each Ministry or Department or Office for inquiring into complaints of sexual harassment shall be deemed to be the inquiring Authority appointed by the Disciplinary Authority and that the Complaints Committee shall hold, if no separate procedure has not been prescribed for the Complaints Committee for holding the inquiry into such complaints, the inquiry, as far as practicable in accordance with the procedure laid down in the said rules. [In 2004 a provision was added to rule 14(2) of the Central Civil Services (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 (copy enclosed) to this effect].

(vi) The Complaints Committee in terms of Cabinet Secretariat's Order No.1 dated 26.09.2008 will inquire into complaints made against officers of the level of Secretary and 'Additional Secretary and equivalent level in the Government of India in the Ministries/Departments and Organisations directly under the control of the Central Government (other than the Central PSUs). The existing Complaints Committee established in each Ministry or Department or Office will, inquire into complaints of sexual harassment against only those Government servants who are not covered by the Cabinet Secretariat's Order NO.1 dated 26.09.2008.

(vii) It may be ensured that the Complaints Committee shall at all times be in existence and changes in its composition, whenever necessary,should be made promptly and adequately publicized. The composition of the Complaints Committee• be also posted on the websites of the concerned Ministries/Departments/Offices