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A three-judge bench headed by Justice R M Lodha directed regulating bodies and all the institutions affiliated to them to implement the guidelines framed in the Vishaka case within two months.
The bench passed the order on a PIL filed by Medha Kalwal Lele seeking its direction to expand the ambit of the 1997 verdict to include various other institutions.
The apex court in 1997 had framed guidelines to handle cases of sexual harassment at the workplace in government departments and PSUs
According to the guidelines, it was the duty of the employer or other responsible persons in work places and other institutions to prevent or deter the commission of acts of sexual harassment and to provide procedures for resolution,\ settlement or prosecution of acts, of sexual harassment by taking all steps required.
The guidelines also said that rules prohibiting sexual harassment at the workplace should be notified, published and circulated and should also provide for penalties against the offenders.
Even private employers were asked to include the express prohibition of sexual harassment in their standing orders.
The guidelines also said that the victims or witnesses are not victimised or discriminated against while dealing with complaints of sexual harassment.
The guidelines recommended setting up of a Complaint Committee, to be headed by a woman and half of its members should comprise of women, to deal with sexual harassment cases.
It also recommended that the committee should involve a third party, either NGO or other body who is familiar with the issue of sexual harassment, in order to prevent possibility of any undue pressure or influence from senior levels.
I am witness to a sexual harassment case in a MNC where the top middle level officer has been suspended from his services. There were many victims in our office including my close colleague but no one dared to complaint against accused. Finally a day came when a brave HR woman took into the confidence to all victim girls and made up the case and then all girls came together, matter reported to CEO and finally the accused suspended within a period of 1 month from the date of complaint. In my view action is done since it was a MNC, there are number of Indian companies where it happens but no one dare to report in absence of any committe and the victim know that there will not be any action. In Indian society everyone blame to victim only. To prevent this, womans should resist to accused in first instance itself else accused gets overconfidence.
The woman folk should not encourage anybody who so ever he is to take advantage of he being the boss or the superior officer. I have been associated with the women of all kind of strata being the hospital administrator. Those women fall prey to ill wishes of the tormentors who either encourage willingly or do not object to any kind of advancement from the men e.g. 'Bindaas'. The women who are devoted to their work and keep relationship limited to colleagues or senior/junior as case may be seldom are subjected to sexual harassment. however there are exceptions such as frustration and one sided love.
