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Showing posts from July, 2024

How to Conduct an Effective Awareness Program on Sexual Harassment at the Workplace.

An effective awareness program on sexual harassment should begin with a clear definition of what constitutes harassment. Employees must understand not only the obvious forms of harassment, such as physical assault or verbal abuse, but also subtler behaviors like inappropriate comments, gestures, or advances. This comprehensive understanding can help prevent incidents before they occur. The program should be interactive and include real-life case studies that allow employees to identify and discuss potential harassment situations. Role-playing exercises can also help employees practice how to respond to harassment or report it appropriately. This will make them feel more confident in identifying problematic behaviors and taking action. Awareness programs should be conducted regularly and tailored to the specific needs of the workplace. For example, in industries with high turnover rates, it's important to offer refresher training to ensure all employees are up to date on the organi...

Posh in Higher Education Institutions in India

On July 25, 2022, an Odisha college student accused the school's physics instructor of rape and sexual harassment. The accused lecturer, who was the institution's reader, had also held the role of NCC officer in the Naval wing. Despite the female student coming to the institute with a formal complaint, the school's internal committee did not discover any proof of the claims she claimed. The probe didn't start until the Higher Education Department became aware of the situation. A Presidency University student from Kolkata filed a formal complaint with the internal committee of the university accusing Mahitosh Mandal, the former head of the department, of sexual harassment on July 17, 2022. It is believed that the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, is essential for protecting female employees from sexual harassment at the workplace. It is significant to highlight that educational institutions play a significant role...

Sethunath Singh v. Ministry of Home Affairs: Ensuring Equal Protection Under the POSH Act.

In a progressive step towards ensuring a safe and secure work environment for all employees, the Delhi High Court delivered a landmark judgment in the case of Sethunath Singh v. Ministry of Home Affairs (2018). This ruling reinforced the principle that the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act extends its protection to all employees, irrespective of their employment status, be it permanent, temporary, or ad-hoc. The Genesis of the Case The case arose from a petition filed by Sethunath Singh, a former ad-hoc employee of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Singh alleged that he had been subjected to sexual harassment by a superior officer during his tenure. However, when he approached the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) constituted by the MHA, his complaint was dismissed on the grounds that he was not a permanent employee and, therefore, not covered under the purview of the POSH Act. The Pivotal Ruling The Delhi High Court took cognizance of the matter and delivered a landmark ...