What exactly is an CC? The Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, and the University Grants Commission (Prevention, prohibition and redressal of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions) Regulations 2015, makes it mandatory for all employers and HEI respectively to constitute an Complaints Committee to look into the matter of sexual harassment at workplace.
Functions of CC
- Receive complaints on sexual harassment at the workplace from an aggrieved woman.
- Inquire into the complaint received.
- Make recommendations to the employer on the action required pursuant to its inquiry of such complaint made. Responsibilities of CC Apart from enabling and ensuring fair trial, CC has various other responsibilities.
- It needs to provide assistance if an employee or a student chooses to file a complaint with the police. Provide mechanisms of dispute redressal and dialogue without undermining complainant’s rights. Protect the identities of all parties involved.
- Provide interim relief during the pendency of the complaint.
- Provide mandatory relief by way of sanctioned leave or relaxation of attendance requirement.
- Ensure that victims or witnesses are not victimised or discriminated against while dealing with complaints
- Ensure prohibition of retaliation or adverse action against covered individual
Responsibilities of CC Apart from enabling and ensuring fair trial, CC has various other responsibilities.
- It needs to provide assistance if an employee or a student chooses to file a complaint with the police. Provide mechanisms of dispute redressal and dialogue without undermining complainant’s rights. Protect the identities of all parties involved.
- Provide interim relief during the pendency of the complaint.
- Provide mandatory relief by way of sanctioned leave or relaxation of attendance requirement.
- Ensure that victims or witnesses are not victimised or discriminated against while dealing with complaints
- Ensure prohibition of retaliation or adverse action against covered individual
