PU to have panel for redressal of harassment complaints

The policy has been framed with an objective to create awareness about various forms of sexual harassment and to generate public opinion against such acts. With the implementation of this policy,a permanent mechanism for prevention and redressal of sexual harassment cases and other acts of gender-based violence at PU and all its affiliated and constituent colleges will be evolved.

A number of committees have been constituted under the policy,each with a term of two years. All the committee have been given a statutory status and empowered to carry out the mandate of the policy. This includes PU Committee Against Sexual harassment (PUCASH),which will cover all the departments,centres,institutes,schools and offices located in the campus,Regional Centre Committee Against Sexual Harassment (RCCASH) at each regional centre of PU and College Committee Against Sexual Harassment (CCASH) in each affiliated and constituent college of PU.

The committees will consist of a team of nine members with at least 50 per cent representation for women. The members will meet at least once a month,but any member can request the chairperson of the specific department to call an urgent meeting in case of any such incident being reported. The time frame of filing a complaint has been fixed to three months from the date of the incident,while in case of a series of incidents,the complaint can be filed within a period of three months from the date of the last incident. However,the committee can also ask for the reasons to be recorded in writing and extend the time limit not exceeding three months,if it is satisfied that the circumstances were such,which prevented the woman from filing a complaint within the stipulated period. The prescribed forms for any kind of inquiry will also be provided.

The Apex Committee Against Sexual Harassment (ACASH) in the university will remain the apex committee,which will consider the appeals against the decisions of PUCASH,RCCASH,CCASH. It will also nominate the members of PUCASH. This committee will be constituted by the vice-chancellor,registrar,dean university instructions (DUI),deans student welfare (women),senior women faculty members,presidents of the teachers’ association (PUTA) and (non-teaching) staff association.

The policy has made specific provisions for the complaint filing process,complaint screening committees,formal inquiry process and its compositions and function,submission of enquiry report and redressive action,action to be taken by disciplinary authority,mode of appeal,penalties and provisions of protection against victimisation. Provisions have also been made to keep a check on the cases of false complaints and the publication of contents of complaints and inquiry proceedings has been prohibited.

The varsity has decided to allocate an appropriate amount for the committees from its annual budget,while all the affiliated colleges have been asked to allocate budget for their college committees and to ensure the implementation of the policy though proper reporting of the complaints and their follow-up procedures.