Annual Report - National Human Rights Commission

Rights of Women and Children
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Others v Union of India & others [W.P. (Crl.) No. 173-177/1999 dated 26.4.2004] had directed
that Complaints Committee as envisaged in Vishaka judgement would be deemed to be an inquiry
authority for the purposes of Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and the report of the
Complaints Committee should be deemed to be an inquiry report under the Central
Civil Services Rules. Thereafter the disciplinary authority would act on the report in accordance
with the rules.
8.18 In pursuance of the above direction, the Central Government (Department of Personnel
and Training) has amended sub-rule (2) of rule 14 of the Central Civil Services (Classification,
Control and Appeal) Rules, 1965 to incorporate the necessary provision. The Ministry of Home
Affairs, Government of India in its Memorandum of Action Taken on the Annual Report of the
Commission for the year 2002-03 has categorically stated that the observations of the Commission
with regard to its efforts to combat sexual harassment of women at the work place have been
noted, the Commission is confident that Vishaka guidelines as enumerated by the Apex Court
would be complied with by all States and Union Territories in true spirit so that women are no
longer subjected to gender discrimination at the work place. The Commission also hopes that
States who have yet to amend their conduct rules and set up the complaints mechanism would
do so without any further delay. It was precisely for this reason that the issue was also discussed
during the meeting of the Commission with the Chief Secretaries and Directors General of
Police of all States and Union Territories held on 14-12-2004.
8.19 In order to spread awareness about the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court on preventing
and combating sexual harassment at the work place, a one-day Workshop on ‘Prevention and
Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women at the Work Place’ was also organized by the
Commission in collaboration with a registered Trust in March 2005. The details of this
programme have been given in a separate chapter titled ‘Promotion of Human Rights Literacy
and Awareness’.
C] Combating Sexual Harassment of Women in Trains
8.20 The Commission has been working for the eradication of sexual harassment of women
passengers in trains in collaboration with the Ministry of Railways and JAGORI, a Delhi based
NGO. The action taken by the Railway Board on the recommendations of the Commission was
reported in the Commission’s Annual Report 2003-04. Since the progress was not satisfactory, a
meeting with the representatives of JAGORI was held on 08-06-2004. As per decisions taken in
that meeting, JAGORI prepared and submitted to the Commission specimen of graphic designs for
display in railway coaches and publicity material for prevention of sexual harassment in trains.
Subsequently, the Commission held another meeting on 23-08-2004 with the representatives of
the Ministry of Railways to discuss the documents submitted by JAGORI. The Inspector General
(Headquarters), Railway Protection Force and Additional Member (Mechanical), Railway Board
participated in that meeting. Discussions were held on the following points:
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