What If a Presiding Officer Verbally Reports Sexual Harassment Complaint

-----" What If a Presiding Officer Verbally Reports Sexual Harassment Complaint against her Superior"-----

An Employee nominated as Presiding Officer of the Internal Committee constituted at her Workplace, verbally reported to her Superior about the Sexual Harassments she was subjected to by her Colleague but the Aggrieved Woman expressed her Unwillingness to submit her Written Complaints for reasons best known to herself.

In such circumstances, what appropriate Action-Steps need to be taken by the Employer of the said Workplace under the Sexual Harassment of Woman at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition & Redreasal) Act 2013 and the Rules framed thereunder and since Gazetted.

The identity of the Aggrieved Woman Complainant and taht of the Colleague against whom the verbal Complaint was reported need not be made known here. As a Member (External) nominated on the Internal Committees, I made up my mind as to How the Employer as well as the Internal Committee of the Workplace under reference, ought to proceed in suct a case, yet I seek enlightenment and or validation to enhance m understanding.

Harsh K Sharan,
Kritarth Team of Spl Educators,
21.5.2020

The fact that the presiding official herself got harassed sexually itself shows the dire need for taking exemplary action in such cases. But she refused to make a formal complaint and set the process going is the sad reality in most of the work places.

Notwithstanding that, the complaint exists, even if there is no written complaint and it is necessary that the offender is told about it and explanation sought. The further course of action could be decided based on a review of the situation thereafter. It is necessary that at least some administrative action like transfer or change in the work area is done and suitably reflected in the appraisal reports are taken. If such instances are ignored or allowed to die it is only going to increase and make the work life miserable for many more employees.