In pursuance of UGC (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women Employees and Students in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2015 read with Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, the Internal Compliance Committee (ICC) & Anti Sexual Harassment Cell (ASHC) of the ST PAULS COLLEGE is constituted to deal with complaints, and to provide a healthy and congenial atmosphere for the staff and students of the College.
Internal Compliance Committee (ICC) & Anti Sexual Harassment Cell (ASHC)
Sexual harassment includes any unwelcome sexually determined behaviour either directly or by implication, such as:
- Verbal or physical threats
- Insulting, abusive, embarrassing or patronizing behaviour or comments
- Offensive gestures, language, rumours, gossip or jokes
- Humiliating, intimidating, demeaning and/or persistent criticism
- Open hostility or Suggestive comments or body language
- Isolation or exclusion from normal work or study place
- Publishing, circulating or displaying pornographic, racist, sexually suggestive or offensive pictures or other materials
- Unwanted physical contact ranging from an invasion of space to a serious assault
- Eve-teasing or Unsavoury remarks
- Jokes causing or likely to cause awkwardness or embarrassment
- Innuendos and taunts
- Gender-based insults or sexist remarks
- Unwelcome sexual overtone in any manner
- Unsolicited physical touch or molestation
- Physical confinement against one’s will and any other act likely to violate one’s privacy
Objectives
- To ensure a safe environment for students and staff
- To create a secure physical and social environment that deters acts of sexual harassment
- To develop principles and procedures for combating sexual harassment.
Roles & Responsibilities
- The complainant will have to submit a written and signed complaint addressed to the Coordinator of the Cell.
- The Coordinator will call the complainant for a personal meeting, usually within a week from the submission of the written complaint.
- The members of the Cell will discuss the complaint.
- If the case falls outside the purview of the Cell, the complaint will be informed to the Principal.
- If the case comes within the purview of the Cell, an enquiry committee will be set up and the committee will submit a report and recommend the action to be taken by the Principal.
- If any legal action is required, the complaint will be forwarded to the police with the help of an advocate.
What if found guilty?
Depending upon the severity of the case, punitive action may take any of the following forms,
- Warning
- Written apology
- Bond of good behaviour
- Adverse remark in the Confidential Report
- Stopping of increments/promotion
- Suspension
- Dismissal
- Any other relevant actions
Caveat
All female faculty members, non-teaching staff and students must bear in mind that such complaints are of an extremely serious nature and should, on no account, be made in a frivolous manner. This platform should not be misused to settle personal scores, or for any other non- genuine reason
Coordinator: Ms. Dalvy Jose – 80509 66067,
Email – [email protected]
If you think you are being harassed, what should you do?
- Send an email to [email protected]
- The inquiry shall be completed within a period of 30 days from the date of the complaint.
- The ICC shall provide a report of its findings to the Principal within a period of 10 days from the date of completion of the inquiry and such report shall be made available to the concerned parties.
- If the allegation against the respondent has been proved, the ICC shall recommend punitive action(s) to be taken against the respondent.
- The Principal shall act upon the recommendation within 30 days of receiving it.
