Sexual Harrasement

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MANAN CHHABRAFACULTY OF LAW, ICFAI, HYDERABAD

11FLUHH0102191

SEXUAL HARASSMENT AT


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A REPORT ON

Sexual Harassment at Workplace- A case study

SUBMITTED BY:Manan Chhabra

A Summer Internship report submitted in the partia !u!iment o!

BBA"##B Pro$ram o! IC%AI& '(derabad"

Submitted to:

%ACU#TY )UIDE PRO*ECT )UIDE

Dr" #"#a+mi Mr" Poonam Das

IBS& '(derabad Bhasin and Bhasin

1


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ACKNOWLEDGEMEN

I hereb( ta,e this opportunit( to than, Bhasin and Bhasin Asso-iates !or pro.idin$ me an

e+posure in the !ied o! #abour #a/ throu$h the -ourse o! m( summer internship"

I /oud i,e to e+press m( sin-ere $ratitude to/ards m( pro0e-t $uide Mrs! "oonam Das&

!or pro.idin$ me $reat insi$hts about #abour #a/& %irm1s area o! pra-ti-e& !or $uidin$ me

a throu$hout and !or bein$ a $reat support"

I /oud aso i,e to than, Dr!L!Laxm#& m( !a-ut( $uide !or instru-tin$ me and $i.in$me her .auabe ad.i-e on m( pro0e-t"

Thanking You,

Manan Chhabra

0


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Tabe o! ContentsIntrodu-tion 2

)ossar( 3

Important Terms /ith respe-t to se+ua harassment 4

#e$a Aspe-ts o! Se+ua 'arassment at /or,pa-e $

E+tent o! Se+ua 'arassment at /or,pa-e 5

Saient %eatures o! Se+ua 'arassment A-t 67

Case

Studies888888888888888888888888888888888

88"62

Cause o!

Con-ern88888888888888888888888888888888

8"27

Cost o! Non

Compian-e888888888888888888888888888888""2

6

Re-ommendations and

Su$$estions88888888888888888888888888"22

Ana(sis9

Con-usion8888888888888888888888888888888""

"2

1


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%ntroduct#on

Se+ua harassment at the /or,pa-e is not a ne/ thin$ but -enturies od;at east i! /e

de!ine se+ua harassment as un/anted se+ua reations imposed b( superiors on the

subordinates" Si+t( per -ent o! /or,in$ /omen ha.e !a-ed se+ua harassment at some

point o! time in their /or,in$ i.es" %or e.er( /oman /ho raises an out-r(& there are

hundreds o! others /ho su!!er in sien-e& empo(ee? shoud humb( a--ept

se+ua harassment as part o! her9his ot"

@omen ha.e !a-ed -oer-ion at the /or,pa-e sin-e time immemoria to the e+tent o!

$ra.e ph(si-a and menta in0ur(" Most modern a--ounts o! histor( o! se+ua harassment

at the /or,pa-e a$ree that re-o$nition o! this probem $athered momentum !rom the

ear( 27thCentur("

Se+ua harassment has been re-o$nied as most intimidatin$& most .ioatin$ !orm o!

.ioen-e sin-e on$ in -ountries i,e U& USA and man( -ountries ha.e not on( ta,en

note o! ho/ de$radin$ e+perien-es o! se+ua harassment -an be !or /omen as /e asempo(ers but ha.e adapted e$isati.e measures to -ombat se+ua harassment"

Quid pro quo and hostile work environment are t&e t'o (road types o) sexual

&arassment!

Se+ua harassment at /or,pa-e is $enera( -assi!ied into t/o distin-t t(pes" =uid pro


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Glossary

@or,pa-e:

The /or,pa-e is an( area /here the empo(ee is re


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Se+ua harassment resuts in the .ioation o! the !undamenta ri$htto $ender e/hi-h deas /ith the prohibition o! dis-rimination on $rounds o! rei$ion& ra-e& -aste&

-reed or se+?"

eepin$ these ri$hts in mind& the Supreme Court has passed t/e.e $uideines that ha.e

the !or-e o! a/" The( /ere ta,en b( a di.ision ben-h as there /as an absen-e o! ena-ted

a/ to pro.ide !or the e!!e-ti.e en!or-ement o! the basi- human ri$ht o! $ender e


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eisure and h($iene" @hen the .i-tim -ompains to the empo(er& the burden is on the

empo(er to ma,e apt in.esti$ations" I! the empo(er does not pa( attention to the

-ompaint& he -an be hed responsibe" The empo(er must set up a -ompaint me-hanism

in ea-h department o! the -ompan(" The Supreme Court=s $uideines are bindin$ on

Centra and State $o.ernments and the pri.ate and pubi- se-tor"

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%M"O*ANE*MSW%H*ES"ECOSE+,ALHA*ASSMEN

UN@E#COME BE'AFIOUR is the -riti-a /ord" Un/e-ome does not mean

in.ountar(" A .i-tim ma( -onsent or a$ree to -ertain -ondu-t and a-ti.e( parti-ipate in

it e.en thou$h it is o!!ensi.e and ob0e-tionabe" There!ore& se+ua -ondu-t is un/e-ome

/hene.er the person sub0e-ted to it -onsiders it un/e-ome" @hether the person in !a-t

/e-omed a re


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UID PRO UO 'ARASSMENTis /hen empo(ment and9or empo(ment de-isions !or

an empo(ee are based on that empo(ees1 a--eptan-e or re0e-tion o! un/e-ome se+ua

beha.ior"

%or e+ampe& a super.isor !ires an empo(ee be-ause that empo(ee /i not $o out /ith

him or her"

'OSTI#E @OR ENFIRONMENT is a /or, en.ironment -reated b( un/e-ome

se+ua beha.ior or beha.ior dire-ted at an empo(ee be-ause o! that empo(ee=s se+ that is

o!!ensi.e& hostie and9or intimidatin$ and that ad.erse( a!!e-ts that empo(ee=s abiit( to

do his or her 0ob"%or e+ampe& per.asi.e un/e-ome se+ua -omments or 0o,es that -ontinue e.en thou$h

the re-ipient has indi-ated that those beha.iors are un/e-ome"

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LEGALAS"ECSOSE+,ALHA*ASSMENAWO*K"LACE

The Se+ua 'arassment o! @omen at @or,pa-e >Pre.ention& Prohibition and Redressa?

A-t& 2763 >Sexual Harassment Act? has been made e!!e-ti.e on Apri 23& 2763 b( /a(

o! pubi-ation in the )aette o! India"

As this issue o! se+ua harassment o! /omen at /or,pa-e is no/ a $oba( re-o$nied

probem and the prohibition a$ainst it is amost uni.ersa in nature" India1s rati!i-ation o!

the -on.ention on Eimination o! A !orms o! Dis-rimination a$ainst @omen at

@or,pa-e& >CEDA@? in 6553& /hi-h binds the state parties >-ountries /ho rati!( the

do-ument? to pre.ent and prohibit Se+ua 'arassment o! @omen at @or,pa-e"

The Se+ua 'arassment A-t has been ena-ted /ith the ob0e-ti.e o! pro.idin$ /omen

prote-tion a$ainst se+ua harassment at the /or,pa-e and !or the pre.ention and redressa

o! -ompaints o! se+ua harassment" Se+ua harassment is -onsidered as a .ioation o! the

!undamenta ri$ht o! a /oman to eConst#tut#on? and her ri$ht to i!e and to i.e /ith di$nit( as per

Arti-e 26 o! the Constitution"

The statute has been ena-ted amost 6H (ears a!ter the Supreme Court o! India& in its

andmar, 0ud$ment in Fisha,a and others ." State o! Ra0asthan > .#s&aka /ud0ement? &

aid do/n $uideines ma,in$ it obi$ator( !or e.er( empo(er to pro.ide a me-hanism to

redress $rie.an-es reatin$ to /or,pa-e se+ua harassment and en!or-e the ri$ht to $ender

eGu#del#nes?" Codi!i-ation o! the re


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In& Appare E+port Promotion Coun-i Fs" A"" Chopra6& the 'on=be Supreme Court

/hie de-idin$ an issue /hether the a-t o! a superior o!!i-er >/herein su-h superior o!!i-er

tried to moest his 0unior /oman empo(ee? /oud amount to se+ua harassment& the

Court reied on the de!inition o! the term =se+ua harassment= aid do/n b( the Supreme

Court in the Fisha,a *ud$ment >/hi-h is simiar to the de!inition o! the Se+ua

'arassment pro.ided in the A-t? hed that the a-t o! the respondent /as unbe-omin$ o!

$ood -ondu-t and beha.ior e+pe-ted !rom a superior o!!i-er and undoubted( amounted to

se+ua harassment"

Se-tion 3 o! the A-t pro.ides that no /oman sha be sub0e-ted to se+ua harassment at

an( /or,pa-e" This se-tion !urther pro.ides the -ir-umstan-es /hi-h i! present or

-onne-ted /ith an( a-t or beha.ior o! se+ua harassment ma( amount to se+ua

harassment su-h as impied or e+pressed promise to pre!erentia treatment or impied or

e+pi-it threat o! detrimenta treatment in her empo(ment& impied or e+pi-it threat about

her present or !uture empo(ment& inter!eren-e /ith /or, or -reatin$ an intimidatin$ or

o!!ensi.e or hostie /or, en.ironment& humiiatin$ treatment i,e( to a!!e-t heath or

sa!et( o! a /oman

1 1997 IIAD Delhi 12, 66 (1997) DLT 327

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E+EN O SE+,AL HA*ASSMEN A WO*K"LACE-%ND%AN

CONE+

Most o! the resear-hes te that& in terms o! /ho is most i,e( to be harassed in the

@or,pa-e are most i,e( /omen" Amon$st a the t/ent(;t/o -ountries -o.ered b( the

IPSOS Reuters sur.e( >2767?& India re-orded hi$hest in-iden-e o! se+ua harassment"

Simiar( Centre !or Trans!ormin$ India sur.e( >2767? re.eaed that near( JJ per-ent o!

/omen /itnessed some !orm o! /or,pa-e se+ua harassment durin$ the -ourse o! their

/or," Additiona(& the sur.e( !ound that there /ere poor a/areness e.es amon$ !emae

empo(ees on /or,pa-e se+ua harassment and there!ore ma0orit( o! them -ontinued /ith

their ordea o! su!!erin$ due to !ear o! pro!essiona .i-timiation"

Ear( 6557s had man( -ountries ena-tin$ spe-i!i- e$isations on se+ua harassment

happenin$ at /or,pa-es" India sa/ ena-tment Se+ua 'arassment o! @omen at

@or,pa-e >Pre.ention& Prohibition and Redressa? A-t in Apri 2763" It is important to

note e.en be!ore the said a/ /as ena-ted& the Supreme Court o! India !or the !irst time

re-o$nied the e+isten-e o! se+ua harassment at /or,pa-e& and the need !or e$a

re-ourse !or the same in its andmar, de-ision i"e" Fisha,ha and Others .s" State o!

Ra0asthan and Others >655K?"

The ne/( ena-ted A-t in India on se+ua harassment buids on the Supreme Court

Fisha,ha $uideines" The A-t re-o$nies that e.er( /oman has a ri$ht to /or, /ith

di$nit( and se+ua harassment as .ioation o! !undamenta ri$hts o! /or,in$ /omen"

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SAL%EN EA,*ES O HE SE+,AL HA*ASSMEN AC1 2345

Scope6 The ambit o! the Se+ua 'arassment A-t& 2763 is .er( /ide and is

appi-abe to the or$anied se-tor as /e as the unor$anied se-tor" In .ie/ o! the

/ide de!inition o! =/or,pa-e=& the statute& inter aia& appies to $o.ernment bodies&

pri.ate and pubi- se-tor or$aniations& non;$o.ernmenta or$aniations&

or$aniations -arr(in$ on -ommer-ia& .o-ationa& edu-ationa& entertainment&

industria& !inan-ia a-ti.ities& hospitas and nursin$ homes& edu-ationa institutes&

sports institutions and stadiums used !or trainin$ indi.iduas" As per the Se+ua

'arassment A-t& a /or,pa-e aso -o.ers /ithin its s-ope pa-es .isited b(

empo(ees durin$ the -ourse o! empo(ment or !or reasons arisin$ out o!

empo(ment in-udin$ transportation pro.ided b( the empo(er !or the purpose

o! -ommutin$ to and !rom the pa-e o! empo(ment"

The de!inition o! =empo(ee= under the Se+ua 'arassment A-t is !air( /ide and

-o.ers re$uar& temporar(& ad ho- empo(ees& indi.iduas en$a$ed on dai( /a$e

basis& either dire-t( or throu$h an a$ent& -ontra-t abor& -o;/or,ers& probationers&

trainees& and apprenti-es& /ith or /ithout the ,no/ed$e o! the prin-ipa empo(er&

/hether !or remuneration or not& /or,in$ on a .ountar( basis or other/ise&

/hether the terms o! empo(ment are e+press or impied"

%nternal Compla#nts Comm#ttee and Local Compla#nts Comm#ttee6 The

Se+ua 'arassment A-t re%CC ? at ea-h o!!i-e or bran-h& o! an or$aniation empo(in$ at east

67 empo(ees" The $o.ernment is in turn reLCC ? at the distri-t e.e to in.esti$ate -ompaints re$ardin$ se+ua

harassment !rom estabishments /here the ICC has not been -onstituted on

a--ount o! the estabishment ha.in$ ess than 67 empo(ees or i! the -ompaint is

a$ainst the empo(er" The Se+ua 'arassment A-t aso sets out the -onstitution o!

the -ommittees& pro-ess to be !oo/ed !or ma,in$ a -ompaint and in


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measures su-h as >i? trans!er o! the a$$rie.ed /oman or the respondent to an(

other /or,pa-e or >ii? $rantin$ ea.e to the a$$rie.ed /oman up to a period o! 3

months in addition to her re$uar statutor(9 -ontra-tua ea.e entitement"

"rocess )or Compla#nt and %n7u#ry6Pease re!er to the !oo/in$ !o/-hart

/hi-h pro.ides& in brie!& the pro-ess to be !oo/ed b( the a$$rie.ed empo(ee to

ma,e the -ompaint and b( the empo(er to in


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CASE S,D9- .%SHAKA .S! SAE O *A/ASHAN2

The iti$ation resuted !rom a bruta $an$ rape o! a pubi-( empo(ed so-ia /or,er in a

.ia$e in Ra0asthan durin$ the -ourse o! her empo(ment" The petitioners brin$in$ the

a-tion /ere .arious so-ia a-ti.ists and non;$o.ernmenta or$aniations" The primar(

basis o! brin$in$ su-h an a-tion to the Supreme Court in India /as to !ind suitabe

methods !or the reaiation o! the true -on-ept o! L$ender e


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e+e-uti.e" @hen& ho/e.er& instan-es o! se+ua harassment resutin$ in .ioations o! Arts

6&

65 and 26 are brou$ht under Art 32& e!!e-ti.e redress re/hether dire-t( or b( impi-ation? su-h as:

ph(si-a -onta-t and ad.an-es

A demand or re


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%ina(& the -ourt stated that the $uideines are to be treated as a de-aration o! a/ in

a--ordan-e /ith Arti-e 663 o! the Constitution unti the ena-tment o! appropriate

e$isation and that the $uideines do not pre0udi-e an( ri$hts a.aiabe under the

Prote-tion o! 'uman Ri$hts A-t 6553"

&e .#s&ak&a 0u#del#nes cate0or#cally state t&at6 :

It is the dut( o! the empo(er or other responsibe persons in the /or,pa-e or institution

to:

Pre.ent se+ua harassment

Pro.ide me-hanisms !or the resoution o! -ompaints

A /omen /ho dra/ a re$uar saar(& re-ei.e an honorarium& or /or, in a .ountar(

-apa-it( in the $o.ernment& pri.ate se-tor or unor$anied se-tor -ome under the pur.ie/

o! these $uideines"

Complaints mechanism

A /or,pa-es shoud ha.e an appropriate -ompaints me-hanism /ith a

-ompaints -ommittee& spe-ia -ounseor or other support ser.i-es"

A /oman must head the -ompaints -ommittee and no ess than ha! its members

shoud be /omen"

The -ommittee shoud in-ude an N)O9indi.idua !amiiar /ith the issue o! se+ua

harassment"

The -ompaints pro-edure must be time;bound"

Con!identiait( must be maintained"

3Arti-e 66: The a/ de-ared b( the Supreme Court sha be bindin$ on a -ourts /ithin the territor( o! India"4A brie! histor( o! the batte a$ainst se+ua harassment at the /or,pa-eb( Fibhuti pate >in!o-han$eindia"or$?

15
http://infochangeindia.org/women/analysis/a-brief-history-of-the-battle-against-sexual-harassment-at-the-workplace.htmlhttp://infochangeindia.org/women/analysis/a-brief-history-of-the-battle-against-sexual-harassment-at-the-workplace.html


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Compainants9/itnesses shoud not e+perien-e .i-timiation9dis-rimination durin$

the pro-ess"

Preventive steps

Se+ua harassment shoud be a!!irmati.e( dis-ussed at /or,ers= meetin$s&

empo(er;empo(ee meetin$s& et-"

)uideines shoud be prominent( dispa(ed to -reate a/areness about the ri$hts o!

!emae empo(ees"

The empo(er shoud assist persons a!!e-ted in -ases o! se+ua harassment b(

outsiders"

Centra and state $o.ernments must adopt measures& in-udin$ e$isation& to

ensure that pri.ate empo(ers aso obser.e the $uideines"

Names and -onta-t numbers o! members o! the -ompaints -ommittee must be

prominent( dispa(ed!

Employers' responsibilities

Re-o$nie se+ua harassment as a serious o!!en-e"

Re-o$nie the responsibiit( o! the -ompan(9 !a-tor(9/or,pa-e to pre.ent and

dea /ith se+ua harassment at the /or,pa-e"

Re-o$nie the iabiit( o! the -ompan(& et-"& !or se+ua harassment b( the

empo(ees or mana$ement" Empo(ers are not ne-essari( insuated !rom that

iabiit( be-ause the( /ere not a/are o! se+ua harassment b( sta!!"

%ormuate an anti;se+ua harassment poi-(" This shoud in-ude:

A -ear statement o! the empo(er=s -ommitment to a /or,pa-e !ree o! una/!u

dis-rimination and harassment"

Cear de!inition o! se+ua harassment >usin$ e+ampes?& and prohibition o! su-h

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beha.ior as an o!!en-e"

Constitution o! a -ompaints -ommittee to in.esti$ate& mediate& -ounse and reso.e

-ases o! se+ua harassment" The Supreme Court $uideines en.isa$e a proa-ti.e roe !or

the -ompaints -ommittee& andprevention o! se+ua harassment at /or, is a -ru-ia roe" It

is thus imperati.e that the -ommittee -onsist o! persons /ho are sensiti.e and open to the

issues !a-ed b( /omen"

A statement that an(one !ound $uit( o! harassment a!ter in.esti$ation /i be sub0e-t to

dis-ipinar( a-tion"

The ran$e o! penaties that the -ompaints -ommittee -an e.( a$ainst the

o!!ender shoud in-ude:

E+pi-it prote-tion o! the -on!identiait( o! the .i-tim o! harassment and o! /itnesses"

A $uarantee that neither -ompainant nor /itnesses /i be sub0e-ted to retaiation"

Pubishin$ the poi-( and ma,in$ -opies a.aiabe at the /or,pa-e" Dis-ussin$ the

poi-( /ith a ne/ re-ruits and e+istin$ empo(ees" Third;part( suppiers and -ients

shoud aso be a/are o! the poi-("

Condu-tin$ periodi- trainin$ !or a empo(ees& /ith a-ti.e in.o.ement o! the

-ompaints -ommittee"

Employers' duty

%reedom !rom se+ua harassment is a -ondition o! /or, that an empo(ee is entited to

e+pe-t" @omen=s ri$hts at the /or,pa-e are human ri$hts"

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CASE S,D9-MEDHA KOWAL LELE .S ,N%ON O %ND%A;

The -ase arises a$ainst a ba-,$round o! the on$;runnin$ attempt to ta-,e the probem o!

se+ua harassment o! /omen at /or, in India& both throu$h the -ourts and be!ore the

e$isature"

In 655K& in a andmar, -ase be!ore the Supreme Court o! India stemmin$ !rom the bruta

$an$ rape o! a pubi-( empo(ed so-ia /or,er at /or, >Vishaka and Others v. State of

Rajasthan andOthers >655K? H SCC 26?& the Court stated that a /oman1s Constitutiona

ri$hts to i!e >/ith di$nit(?& to eLFisha,a )uideines? /ith re$ards to the pre.ention and redress o! se+ua harassment in

the /or,pa-e" These set out a series o! obi$ations on empo(ers to pre.ent aor deter a-ts

o! se+ua harassment and to remed( o--asions /here su-h a-ts ta,e pa-e" The Court

stated that the Fisha,a )uideines /ere to be treated as a de-aration o! a/ and to app(

unti ree.ant prote-ti.e e$isation /as ena-ted b( the Pariament"

Sin-e then& the LProte-tion o! @omen a$ainst Se+ua 'arassment at @or,pa-e Bi

2767& /hi-h see,s to pro.ide the rethe o/er house o! Pariament? in September 2762" It is -urrent( pendin$ in the Ra0(a

Sabha >the upper house o! Pariament? and so is not (et in !or-e" The present -ase arose

/hen Medha ot/a #ee& -oordinator o! Aao-hana& a -enter !or do-umentation and

resear-h on /omen and other /omen1s ri$hts $roups& to$ether /ith others& petitioned the

Court hi$hi$htin$ a number o! indi.idua -ases o! se+ua harassment and ar$uin$ that the

Fisha,a )uideines /ere not bein$ e!!e-ti.e( impemented" In parti-uar& the petitioners

ar$ued that& despite the $uideines& /omen -ontinued to be harassed in the /or,pa-e

be-ause the Fisha,a )uideines /ere bein$ brea-hed in both substan-e and spirit b( state

!un-tionaries /ho harass /omen /or,ers .ia e$a and e+tra e$a means& ma,in$ them

su!!er and b( insutin$ their di$nit("

5 Applic!i"# N$%&'() 2012 STPL *W'&+ 1 SC -$(i./ic!i"#

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The Court /as spe-i!i-a( re-ondu-t? Rues& 65H >CCS Rues?

Industria Empo(ment >Standin$ Orders? Rues"

Dec#s#onThe Court stated that the Fisha,a )uideines had to be impemented in !orm& substan-e

and spirit in order to hep brin$ $ender parit( b( ensurin$ /omen -an /or, /ith di$nit(&

de-en-( and due respe-t" It noted that the Fisha,a )uideines re


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Impementation o! the Fisha,a )uideines"

The Bar Coun-i o! India sha ensure that a bar asso-iations in the -ountr( and persons

re$istered /ith the State Bar Coun-is !oo/ the Fisha,a )uideines" Simiar(& the

Medi-a Coun-i o! India& Coun-i o! Ar-hite-ture& Institute o! Chartered A--ountants&

Institute o! Compan( Se-retaries and other statutor( Institutes sha ensure that the

or$aniations& bodies& asso-iations& institutions and persons re$istered9a!!iiated /ith them

!oo/ the Fisha,a )uideines"

%ina(& the Court stated that& in the e.ent o! non;-ompian-e to the Fisha,a )uideines&

the

Courts orders and9or dire-tions abo.e& a$$rie.ed persons shoud approa-h the 'i$h Courto! the state -on-erned"

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LOW AWA*NESS AMONG EM"LO9EES-A CA,SE O CONCE*N

Corporate /or,pa-es ha.e be-ome in-reasin$( in!orma o.er time and it is not

un-ommon !or empo(ees to so-iaie be(ond /or, hours" Teams ma( $ather !or .arious

re-reationa a-ti.ities )oba points o! presen-e aso ead to ha.e empo(ees tra.ein$ !or

meetin$s& e.ents and -on!eren-es" In su-h s-enarios& empo(ers ha.e to ensure that

indi.iduas maintain proper de-orum around their -o;/or,ers" A stra( remar, here& a

-oor!u -omment there and the a!termath -oud resut in a .oatie situation"

The importan-e o! trainin$ and a/areness is -ru-ia" The sur.e( re.eaed that 26 o! the

respondent1s or$aniations did not ha.e $enera a/areness -ampai$ns aimed at their

empo(ees" A--ordin$ to & their or$aniations did not dispa( the pena -onse


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COS O NON COM"%LANCE

There are dire -onse


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*ECOMMENDA%ON AND S,GGES%ONS

EMP#OYER=S OB#I)ATIONS

In addition to ensurin$ -ompian-e /ith the other pro.isions stipuated& the Se+ua

'arassment A-t -asts -ertain obi$ations upon the empo(er to& inter aia&

i" Pro.ide a sa!e /or,in$ en.ironment

ii" Dispa( noti-eab( at the /or,pa-e& the pena -onse


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rues& an appropriate -ompaint me-hanism shoud be -reated in the empo(er1s

or$aniation !or redress o! the -ompaint made b( the .i-tim" Su-h -ompaint me-hanism

shoud ensure time bound treatment o! -ompaints"

COMP#AINT COMITTEE

The -ompaint me-hanism& re!erred to abo.e& shoud be adeIndian Pena Code?

As a resut o! the $ro/in$ importan-e o! the issues reatin$ to se+ua harassment and

prote-tion o! !emae empo(ees in India& a ne/ se-tionJ/as added to the Indian Pena

Code& 6JH7 throu$h the Crimina #a/ >Amendment? A-t& 27635&/hi-h enists the a-ts

8 Se("#% 2)% Se*ua+ ,ara!!-e" A(" 2013

9 Se("#% 354A Id#a Pea+ C%de 1860

24


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/hi-h -onstitute the o!!en-e o! se+ua harassment and !urther en.isa$es penat( 9

punishment !or su-h a-ts" A man -ommittin$ an o!!en-e under this se-tion is punishabe

/ith imprisonment& the term o! /hi-h ma( ran$e bet/een 6 ; 3 (ears or /ith !ine or both"

Sin-e the amendment -riminaies a a-ts o! se+ua harassment& empo(ers sha be

re


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ANAL9S%S< CONCL,S%ON

a" The Se+ua 'arassment A-t on( addresses the issue o! prote-tion o! /omen

empo(ees and is not $ender neutra" Mae empo(ees& i! sub0e-ted to se+ua

harassment& -annot -aim prote-tion or reie! under the a/"

b" The de!inition o! =a$$rie.ed /oman= does not ma,e a re!eren-e to .i-timiation

>on the part o! the empo(er? o! the empo(ee /ho has made the -ompaint o!

harassment& /hi-h /oud be !air( -ommon in su-h situations" This /as in !a-t an

important re-ommendation o! the Standin$ Committee" The de!inition o! the

=se+ua harassment=& the /ords =.erba& te+tua& ph(si-a& $raphi- or ee-troni-

a-tions= shoud ha.e been added in order !or the purposes o! -arit(& as it /oud

-o.er some o! the te-hnoo$i-a de.eopments"

-" It ma( be-ome a -haen$e !or empo(ers to -onstitute an ICC at a administrati.e

units or o!!i-es" It ma( aso be-ome ne-essar( !or the empo(er to spend more time

and e!!orts in trainin$ members o! the ICC /ho are to be repa-ed e.er( 3 (ears"

There is aso a a-, o! -arit( as to /ho sha be a -hairperson o! the ICC in

absen-e o! a senior e.e !emae empo(ee" Aso& in su-h -ases& the -omposition o!

the -ommittee members shoud idea( ha.e been an odd number in order !or the-ommittee to arri.e at a de-ision based on ma0orit("

d" The ICC aso needs to in.o.e a member !rom amon$st non;$o.ernmenta

or$aniations or asso-iations -ommitted to the -ause o! /omen or /ho ha.e had

e+perien-e in so-ia /or, or ha.e e$a ,no/ed$e" Empo(ers ma( not be

-om!ortabe /ith su-h an e+terna representation& -onsiderin$ the sensiti.ities

surroundin$ this issue and the need to maintain stri-t -on!identiait("

e" The a/ -asts an obi$ation upon the empo(er to address the $rie.an-es in respe-t

o! se+ua harassment at /or,pa-e in a time bound manner& /hi-h in se.era -ases

ma( not be pra-ti-a( possibe as the empo(ees or /itnesses in.o.ed ma( not

easi( or readi( -o;operate"

!" The a/ ao/s the empo(er to initiate a-tion a$ainst the -ompainant in -ase o! a

!ase or mai-ious -ompaint" This pro.ision& athou$h meant to prote-t the

empo(er=s interests& is i,e( to deter .i-tims !rom reportin$ su-h in-idents and

!iin$ -ompaints& /hi-h ma( in turn de!eat the purpose !or /hi-h the a/ /as

ena-ted"

26


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$" In -ase the a--usation has been pro.ed& the Se+ua 'arassment A-t ao/s the ICC

to re-ommend to the empo(er to dedu-t !rom the respondent=s saar( su-h sums it

ma( -onsider appropriate to be paid to the a$$rie.ed /oman" 'o/e.er& there ma(

need to be made -ertain -orrespondin$ -han$es to the Pa(ment o! @a$es A-t& 653H

o! India& /hi-h restri-ts the nature o! dedu-tions that ma( be made !rom an

empo(ee=s saar("

h" Considerin$ that India has a di.erse set o! rei$ions& -utures& -astes& an$ua$es&

et-" the $o.ernment aso needs to start !o-usin$ on pro.idin$ prote-tion !or some

o! the other !orms o! harassment& /hi-h is !air( -ommon in se.era o! the

de.eoped -ountries >same se+ harassment?"

27

Figure 1 POSITION OF SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN INDIA (AS PER THE ACT)


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Sexual Harrasement

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