...... 76 RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN in Mumbai in collaboration with the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Women’s Institute for Social Education, an NGO based in Mumbai. It was also mentioned that the Commission had accepted the recommendations made during the sensitization programme and desired that follow-up action be taken. Accordingly, the Commission has forwarded these recommendations to the Tourism Secretaries and the Secretaries in-charge of Women Welfare of all the States/Union Territories for taking appropriate action on them and requested to send the action taken report to the Commission. The Commission is yet to receive the action taken reports from Union/State Governments. 7.16 In order to further sensitize the policy makers, judicial officers, police officials and officials of the hotel and tourism industry, the Commission proposes to convene at least two more sensitisation workshops on prevention of sex tourism, one in the eastern zone and the other in the southern zone. B] Combating Sexual Harassment of Women at the Work Place 7.17 In its annual report for the year 2002-03, the Commission had indicated in detail the steps taken by it in combating sexual harassment. The year under review saw the continuation of the Commission’s efforts to combat sexual harassment at the work place. A meeting was held under the chairmanship of Dr. Justice A.S. Anand, Hon’ble Chairperson, NHRC on 1st May, 2003 to discuss the exact role of the Complaints Committee and whether there was any bar, legal or otherwise, to the amendment of CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965 and in particular Rule 14(2) thereof in order to avoid duplication of work involved in having the complaints of sexual harassment of women at the work place examined twice – once by the Complaints Committee and again by the Disciplinary Committee. After a detailed discussion, it was agreed that:
All inquiries relating to complaints of sexual harassment of women at work places should be based on the principle of natural justice so that fair and just inquiry is conducted against the delinquent officer.
There was need to provide legal semblance to Office Memorandum No.11013/11/2001Estt (A) dated 12th December, 2002 (Annexure I) issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) on “Report of the Complaints Committee constituted for prevention of sexual harassment of women at work places – follow up action” in order to ensure that it is implemented by all Ministries/Departments of the Government of India.
In cases where the Complaints Committee is headed by an Officer of a level below that of the Officer complained against, then in such cases a senior officer may be appointed by the Disciplinary Authority to be the Chairperson of the Committee for that particular case. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION