RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN necessary amendments were carried out in the Act, the Bar Council, in accordance with the provision laid down in Section 9 of the Advocates Act, 1961, could set up a Disciplinary Committee exclusively to deal with cases of sexual harassment and, accordingly, co-opt an active senior woman advocate as the Chairperson of that Committee as envisaged in the complaints mechanism referred to in the Vishaka judgment. The constitution of such a Disciplinary Committee under Section 9 of the Advocates Act, 1961 would be an effective mechanism as it would have disciplinary implications and, further, act as a deterrent against those who attempt to sexually harass any woman. ● It was felt that the Complaints Committee proposed to be set up under Section 9 of the Advocates Act, 1961 in the Bar Council of India and in various other State Bar Councils would have to be more rigorous so as to take action against the offenders. ● It was decided that once the complaints mechanism is set up in the Bar Council of India, the Bar Association of India, the Supreme Court Bar Association and the High Court Bar Associations, the Commission would take the initiative of training all the Complaints Committee members, which would be in accordance with one of the statutory functions of the Commission requiring it to spread human rights literacy and promote awareness. ● Shri Raju Ramachandran, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court and Smt. Kamini Jaiswal, Advocate, Supreme Court also raised the point that if the Vishaka guidelines are to be implemented in letter and spirit, the judiciary at all levels needs to be included in the process since the Courts are also work places of women. Shri Raju Ramachandran said that he would send a letter to the Commission on this matter for its consideration. 7.37 Subsequently, Shri Ramachandran wrote a letter to the Commission on 30 July 2002 stating that "for a woman lawyer, the 'workplace' comprises not just her senior's chamber, the bar library, canteen or corridor but also the Court room. There are well-known instances of women lawyers feeling that the behaviour of judges towards them has been inappropriate". It was accordingly decided by the Commission that the Chairperson may write a letter to the Chief Justice of India in the matter. The Chairperson, thereafter, wrote a letter to the Chief Justice of India on 15 November 2002, a copy of which is enclosed at Annexure 8. ANNUAL REPORT 2002-2003 ... ... 97 ... ... ..