Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has asked the Centre to appoint an appellate authority to hear the cases of sexual harassment at workplaces in the Capital.
In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal has urged implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act so that the appellate authority is constituted.
“The Act, which was passed in the wake of women safety, hasn’t been implemented in the city as the Central government is yet to issue the notification. As a result, there is no appellate authority under the Act,” said Ms Maliwal. “I write this letter to you to emphasise the urgent need for immediately issuing the apposite notifications under the Act so that an appellate authority is constituted.”
Without an appellate authority, the victim of sexual harassment at work has no option but to approach and rely on the internal complaint committee at her workplace.
And many a times, the committee skirts the issue and chances of victim seeking justice reduce.
“She is denied the opportunity of an appeal to an independent body,” explained Ms Maliwal. “I sincerely hope that you would urgently act upon this issue preferably within this week for the security and safety of working women in the national Capital,” she said in the letter.
Even colleges and universities have been asked to give the status report of the committees set up to look into such cases to the commission.
