Gossip as a Threat: How Should ICC Handle Unproven Claims of Misbehavior?

Dear All,

Can anyone please clarify whether a complaint of gossip about a female staff's personal misbehavior (with no evidence to support the gossip) being used as a threat against a male staff member to the ICC committee formed to handle sexual harassment, will be considered? And if so, what actions will be taken in response?

Thank you.

Internal Committee and Its Role

The Internal Committee is constituted under Section 4 of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redressal) Act 2013 for the redressal of sexual harassment complaints or reports filed or submitted by the aggrieved woman complainant herself or by any other person authorized or empowered by her, as clarified in the aforementioned Act.

The Internal Committee, as the "Redressal Mechanism," must address the sexual harassment complaints forwarded to them and redress them as per the provisions of the said Act of 2013 and the Central Rules framed under the said Act, gazetted on 9.12.2013.

Handling Complaints from Other Genders

Any other sexual harassment complaint filed by a person of any gender other than female can or has to be dealt with under the provisions of either certified Standing Orders or the Service Rules framed in line with the Shops & Establishments Act and Rules, as applicable, or under the IPC if the complaints fall within the IPC purview.

Kritarth Team

Bengaluru Centre

21 Dec 2019