HC directive to authorities Create environment to prevent sexual harassment at educational institutions and work places

The High Court has directed the authorities concerned to constitute committees for preventing sexual harassment at all educational institutions across the country. The education ministry and University Grants Commission have been asked to implement this directive in compliance with the 2009 HC verdict.
In response to another petition, the HC on May 14, 2019 issued a set of guidelines defining sexual misdemeanours to prevent any kind of physical, mental or sexual harassment of women, girls and children at their workplaces, educational institutions and other public places across the country. The court also directed the government to make a law on the basis of the guidelines, and ruled that the guidelines will be treated as a law until the law is incorporated.
Till now, an overwhelming majority of government and private institutions do not have any such committee, and sexual harassment continues to be an everyday affair for a large number of working women. Out of 40 working women, 28 said female colleagues faced physical, verbal, mental or cyber abuse in their existing or former workplace at the hands of their bosses, supervisors or colleagues. The complaints include asking for sexual favours, forcible kissing, hugging, ogling, sending inappropriate web links, making objectionable comments on attire, sending indecent text messages, and perverse forms of flattery in the workplace.
Women often refrain from reporting these incidents due to the associated social stigma, a lack of action and feared negative repercussions on their careers. An overwhelming majority said they didn’t think complaining would bring any change, as the hierarchy of the harasser mattered. Many others said they could not risk losing their jobs. What was gathered from the survey was that if someone did complain, the authorities concerned made ridiculous suggestions.
As a growing number of women are enrolling in higher educational institutions and entering the job market, making a supportive work environment for all should be a priority.