96 ... ... ... ... .. RIGHTS OF WOMEN AND CHILDREN 7.34 All the Ministries/Departments have also been requested by the DOPT, through the above-mentioned Office Memorandum, to bring those instructions to the notice of all concerned and ensure that necessary follow-up action is taken on the report of the Complaints Committee without delay. 7.35 In parallel to this exchange of letters with DOPT, the then Chairperson of the Commission wrote a letter on 26 June 2002 to the Minister for Law, Justice and Company Affairs, Government of India requesting him to take an initiative in the matter and to suitably amend the CCS Rules so as to make it mandatory under those CCS Rules to constitute a Complaints Committee in accordance with the Supreme Court guidelines in order, inter alia, to investigate complaints of sexual harassment and to provide that its report should form the basis for the Disciplinary Committee to take necessary action. 7.36 Further, with a view to examining how the legal fraternity could implement the guidelines and norms prescribed by the Apex Court, a high-level meeting was convened in the Commission on 29 July 2002 at which were present leading members of the Bar. That meeting specifically discussed how the Bar Council of India, the Supreme Court Bar Association, various other Bar Associations and the State Bar Councils could be involved in spreading awareness about the guidelines, as well as the setting-up of effective complaints mechanisms to deal with the problem of sexual harassment in the legal profession. After a detailed discussion, it was agreed that: ● There was need to reiterate the guidelines and norms as prescribed by the Supreme Court in Vishaka v/s State of Rajasthan in a more forceful manner for the legal profession as well. It was agreed that the Bar Associations, being non-statutory bodies, could set up a complaints mechanism without any delay to deal with complaints of sexual harassment of women in the legal profession as well as women litigants. ● It was agreed that the Bar Council of India should accordingly set up a suitable complaints mechanism. This would not only spread awareness of the guidelines and norms prescribed by the Apex Court in the Vishaka v/s State of Rajasthan judgment but also ensure discipline amongst the legal fraternity. ● It was decided that there was need to suitably amend the Advocates Act, 1961 so as to make provision for an appropriate complaints mechanism. However, on a suggestion made by Shri P. Chidambaram, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court, it was decided that until such time as the N AT I O N A L H U M A N R I G H T S C O M M I S S I O N