• Serious error in the implementation of the law

NEW DELHI: Supreme Court issues guidelines for effective implementation of Central Act 2013 to prevent violence against women at workplaces. The court observed that there was a serious flaw in the implementation of the Act. Central and state governments should check whether internal committees are constituted to look into sexual violence complaints in all ministries, departments, and government institutions. The bench comprising Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli pointed out that improperly constituted committees would hinder the investigation of sexual violence in the workplace.

The important intervention of the court is in the appeal of a person dismissed from government service on the basis of the report of the Home Committee.

Directives:

• Internal committees should be formed in institutions like Bar Council of India, the National Medical Commission and Institute of Chartered Accountants also.
• The structure of internal committee, e-mail address, phone number, procedure of filing complaints online, etc. should be made available on the website of the institutions.
• Internal committees should be made effective in universities, colleges, training centers, government-private hospitals, and nursing homes also.
• The authorities should ensure an efficient investigation from the time of receiving the sexual assault complaint to the submission of the investigation report.
• Seminars and workshops should be conducted to sensitize women employees about the provisions of the Act.
• Seminars should be conducted by national and state legal service authorities, judicial academies, etc also.
• Central and state governments should submit an affidavit within eight weeks of the implementation of the directives.

Guidelines, as the wrestlers continue their strike

The Supreme Court's verdict comes as wrestlers continue their strike at Jantar Mandar demanding action against Wrestling Federation of India chief Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh on sexual harassment complaints. The judgment highlighted that 16 out of 30 national sports federations have not formed internal committees. The Supreme Court added that sexual violence in the workplace affects the mental and physical health of the victim.