10 things to know about govt’s new Sexual Harassment Electronic Box or SHe-Box

THE DoPT on Wednesday issued an office memorandum on the government’s new online  application Sexual Harassment Electronic Box or SHe-Box, asking the ministries, departments, Central Public Sector Enterprises et al to make their officers and staff aware of the new tool. Here are the 10 things to know about the online tool to register sexual harassment cases:

Ministries' Annual Reports must document sexual harassment cases, DoPT reiterates

THE Annual Reports published by Central government ministries and departments can no longer ignore instances of sexual harassment and their disposal statistics, a DoPT office memorandum issued last week reiterated. Also, ministries and departments need to furnish a monthly report to the ministry of women and child development giving details of number of sexual harassment complaints, those disposed of and the ones…

Govt seeks comments on its new definition of "appeal" of sexual harassment "victims" in government offices

THE government has asked for comments on a draft instruction on how to provide an appeal to the complainant in allegation of sexual harassment under Section 18(1) of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace [Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal] Rules, 2013. All stakeholders, ministries or departments are requested to offer their comments or views in this regard latest by June 21, 2016 at the e-mail address... 

Young IAS officer Riju Bafna who filed a sexual harassment case says, "Idiots are lined up at every step"

Bafna's Facebook Photo

Riju Bafna, a young IAS officer of 2014 batch who had filed a sexual harassment case against a member of Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission for sending her “indecent messages”, narrated on Monday her unpleasant experience while pursuing the case. “Idiots are lined up at every step and people are highly insensitive towards our sufferings,” she said in a Facebook post that went viral on Monday. The officer, however, edited one line in her post where she said…

Sometime, there can be action against an official facing sexual harassment complaint even without inquiry, says DoPT Step Guide

DISCIPLINARY authority conducting an inquiry in sexual harassment complaints is allowed to dispense with inquiry, and action may be taken against the government official without inquiry when the authority concludes that it is not reasonably practicable to hold such an inquiry because of threats or intimidation, according to provisions laid down by a new guide on “Steps for Conduct of Inquiry in complaints of Sexual Harassment”, prepared by the department of personnel and training (DoPT), Government of India. Action without inquiry could be possible if…

Rule 3C: After the recent amendment, what does sexual harassment in government office mean?

THE government has amended the definition of sexual harassment as described under Rule 3-C of CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964, through a notification dated November 19, 2014. According to the amended rules for government servants, the prohibition of sexual harassment of working women includes the following:

Sexual Crimes: 7 secretaries to “personally monitor” Action Plan

EVERY month, secretaries of seven key ministries will have to personally monitor the implementation of newly-framed time-bound action plan to strengthen police and administration to combat sexual crimes against women. That’s not all. The concerned secretaries will have to…

Women Safety: Central IAS Association’s list of suggestions to Verma panel

A 17th Century Painting on Rape and Atrocities

Central IAS Association has suggested that the government should make it mandatory for all senior government recruits to sign a declaration that “they have not and will not either give or take dowry”. The Association which wants definition of rape to be changed to include marital rape, however, opposes “castration and other abnormal kinds of punishment”. In the wake of the recent gang-rape incident in Delhi, here are some of the suggestions submitted by Indian Civil and Administrative Service (Central) Association to JS Verma Commission appointed to examine the present laws on safety and dignity of women.

Any suggestion on women safety? Any Complaint? Contact Usha Mehra Commission at Vigyan Bhawan

ON DAY 1 of the New Year 2013, the government announced constituting a Special Task Force comprising Union home secretary, Delhi chief secretary among others to look into safety issues of women in Delhi on a fortnightly basis. Also, do you have any complaint or suggestions to make on women safety? You can contact Justice Usha Mehra Commission personally or call in the following telephone numbers:

RIP “Nirbhaya”: Bureaucrats express solidarity, lend voices on policing, mentality change

Protests in Delhi (File photo)

FROM “quick and sensitive policing” to suggestions on “national flag flown at half mast” Indian bureaucrats have resorted to social media to lend their voices on Delhi gang-rape case. As the news of Delhi gang-rape victim Nirbhaya’s death in a Singapore hospital shocked the nation on Saturday early morning, here are some voices of Indian bureaucrats:

Can govt prevent crimes like Delhi rape; FAQs on sexual harassment in offices

THE recent horrific gang rape in Delhi is a reflection of how women are being treated in our families and in society, say experts. Home secretary RK Singh’s spirited press conference on Friday is a welcome step, but can government alone bring a solution to this deep-rooted menace? The reality is, the cases of sexual harassment within government offices are often spotted, complained and investigated. Here are some frequently asked questions and their answers on sexual harassment of women in government offices:

Cases of sexual harassment by Army officers are “only aberrations”

Antony defends Army officers

THE cases of misuse of funds and sexual harassment by Indian Army officers are only “aberrations and not the rule”, defence minister AK Antony informed Parliament on Wednesday. In a written reply to a Member in Rajya Sabha, Antony elaborated the current status of a few such cases of misconduct by senior officers. One Colonel and one Lieutenant Colonel ranked officers accused of sexually harassing women were…

IRS officer alleges her senior, an IAS, of sexual harassment, case lands at High Court

Disclaimer: Photo does not pertain to this case

VS Bhaskar, a 1985 batch Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS and senior officer in Nandan Nilekani-run UIDAI, has approached Andhra Pradesh high court to quash a CAT order on a sexual harassment case.
It all began when S Padmaja, an IRS officer holding the rank of additional director general in UIDAI, claimed that Bhaskar was harassing her mentally and had even tried to physically assault her. It was alleged that Bhaskar, her senior, used abusive language, threats etc. over phone when he was drunk.
Ms Padmaja went on leave and a committee looked into the matter. The Hyderabad Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) recently ordered Bhaskar’s repatriation to his parent cadre of Assam and Meghalaya.
Bhaskar claimed that Ms Padmaja approached CAT only to harass him as she was not probably happy with the kind of work allotted to her.
According to a DoPT memo, the following constitutes “sexual harassment” in government:
a) Physical contacts and advances;
b) Demand or request for sexual favours
c) Sexually coloured remarks
d) Showing any pornography, or
(e) Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature
Also Read

DoPT’s reminder on sexual harassment

Action and Appointments

a) The Centre has accorded the inter-cadre transfer of Vivek Pratap Singh, a 1996 batch Punjab cadre IAS from Punjab to AGMUT cadre. He will be Commissioner, Chandigarh Municipal Corporation for three years.
b) BB Kaura, a Central Secretariat Service officer, has been appointed as joint secretary in the department of telecom till he retires in November 2013.

Govt issues third memo in less than 3 months on sexual harassment of working women

THE government seems to be serious in establishing a fool-proof system of making government offices free from sexual harassment against working women. In less than three months, the department of personnel and training (DoPT) has issued the third office memorandum on the subject, the latest being the result of insistence of chairperson of Parliamentary Standing Committee of the DoPT to know the implementation of its earlier instructions on the subject. The latest memo, dated October 8, 2009, directed all Central government departments and ministries to furnish details of actions that they have taken to ensure Complaints Committee mechanism relating to sexual harassment of working women effective and functional. The ministries and departments are requested to give the details by fax on or before October 15 so that the department can present it before the Parliamentary Standing Committee of the DoPT. The earlier two office memoranda related to the subject of sexual harassment were issued on July 21, 2009 and August 3, 2009. In the memo issued recently has asked all departments and ministries to furnish details of the steps “even if no live cases are available to review the preparedness and fulfill the requirements of the Apex Court judgement in ‘Vishakha’ case.” “It was also to be ensured that changes in the composition of the committee should be made promptly and adequately publicized including posting on the website of the concerned ministry or department,” the memo further said. Read: OFFICE MEMO dated October 8, 2009 Straight From Files What sexual harassment includes (July 25, 2009) Sexual harassment cases of women officers in armed forces (July 23, 2009)

DoPT reminds government officers and staff of guidelines on “sexual harassment”

THE government has reminded officials and other staff of existing guidelines regarding prevention of sexual harassment of working women and said in a recent office memo that it is necessary to have in place at all times an effective Complaint Mechanism for dealing with cases of sexual harassment of working women and to create awareness in this regard. Rule 3 C of the CGS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 provides that no government servant shall indulge in any act of sexual harassment of any women at her work place, the office memo issued by the department of personnel and training (DoPT) said. There is no available data of such incidents taking place in power corridors, or whether cases of sexual harassment in government offices have actually risen in the recent past. But the timing of the Memo is significant as defence minister A K Antony said in Parliament just three days ago that sexual harassment cases of women officers in armed forces would be viewed seriously and investigated. (Read babu blogger’s post on July 23) In fact, the DoPT mentioned what constitutes “sexual harassment”. According to the Memo, “Sexual harassment” includes such unwelcome sexually determined behaviour, whether directly or otherwise, as -- a) Physical contacts and advances; b) Demand or request for sexual favours c) Sexually coloured remarks d) Showing any pornography, or (e) Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature The Memo has also included the salient features of the compliant mechanism and the inquiry procedure. It also said that the complaints committee should be headed by a woman and not less than half of its members should be women. Further to prevent the possibility of any undue pressure or influence from senior levels, such complaints committee should involve a third party, either NGO or other body who is familiar with the issue of sexual harassment. The Memo has further said that the Complaints Committee in terms of Cabinet Secretariat’s Order No 1 dated September 26, 2008 will inquire into complaints made against officers of the level of secretary and additional secretary and equivalent level in the government of India in the ministries/departments and organisations directly under the control of the Central government, but other than the Central PSUs.