HC notice to parties\, govt on ICC

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HC notice to parties, govt on ICC

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To deal with charges of sexual harassment of women at workplace

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Congress, BJP, CPI(M) and State government on a petition seeking to set up internal complaints committee (ICC) to deal with charges of sexual harassment of women in terms of the Supreme Court guidelines in the Vishaka case and the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013.

The notice was issued by the Bench headed by Chief Justice Hrishikesh Roy. The petition was filed by a Kochi-based Centre for Constitutional Rights Research and Advocacy.

According to the petitioner, various incidents of sexual harassment at work places in the State had surfaced, exposing the poor implementation of the guidelines and the Act. A woman actor was sexually assaulted and another television personality had alleged that she was dropped from a television project when she refused to accede to the demand of sexual favours by a director.

Allegation of sexual harassment was also levelled by a woman party member against one of the CPI(M) MLA. The party had constituted a two-member committee to inquire into the allegation, instead of a five-member internal complaints committee as mandated by the provision of the Act.

The petitioner pointed out that even in some media organisations, no such committee had been set up. The failure to set up internal complaints committee amounted to creating a hostile work environment and denial of equality to working women. The absence of the committee in institutions reflected the disinclination of the administration and the management to address the issue.

The petitioner also sought a directive to set up the committee in the Indian Newspaper Society, Kerala Union of working Journalists (KUWJ), and Film Employees Federation of Kerala (FEFKA).

The organisation pleaded that a directive be issued to the State government to conduct a social audit on the implementation of the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, in the State.