Bhanwari Devi

If the following circumstances exist in relation to any behavior, that is, if any act is do
ne under the following circumstances that would also count as sexual harassment:
Impliedorexplicitpromiseofpreferentialtreatmentinemployment
Impliedorexplicitthreatofdetrimentaltreatmentinemployment
Impliedorexplicitthreataboutherpresentorfutureemploymentstatus
Interfereswithworkorcreatesanintimidating/hostile/offensiveworkenvironment
Humiliatingtreatmentlikelytoaffectherhealthandsafety

Major Features

TheActdefinessexualharassmentattheworkplaceandcreatesamechanismfor
redressalofcomplaints.
TheActalsocoversconceptsof'quidproquoharassment'and'hostileworkenvironment'
asformsofsexualharassmentifitoccursinconnectionwithanactorbehaviourofsexual
harassment.
Whilethe"workplace"intheVishakaGuidelinesisconfinedtothetraditionalofficesetupwherethereisaclearemployer-employeerelationship,theActgoesmuchfurtherto
includeorganisations,department,office,branchunitetc.inthepublicandprivatesector,
organizedandunorganized,hospitals,nursinghomes,educationalinstitutions,sports
institutesandanyplacevisitedbytheemployeeduringthecourseofemployment.
Thedefinitionof"aggrievedwoman",whowillgetprotectionundertheActisextremely
widetocoverallwomen,irrespectiveofherageoremploymentstatus,whetherinthe
organisedorunorganisedsectors,publicorprivateandcoversclients,customersand
domesticworkersaswell.
EveryemployerisrequiredtoconstituteanInternalComplaintsCommitteeateachoffice
orbranchwith10ormoreemployees.TheDistrictOfficerisrequiredtoconstitutea
LocalComplaintsCommitteeateachdistrict,andifrequiredattheblocklevel.

Major Features Contd...

TheComplaintsCommitteeshavethepowersofcivilcourtsforgatheringevidence.
TheComplaintsCommitteesarerequiredtoprovideforconciliationbefore
initiatinganinquiry,ifrequestedbythecomplainant.
TheCommitteeisrequiredtocompletetheinquirywithinatimeperiodof90days.
Oncompletionoftheinquiry,thereportwillbesenttotheemployerortheDistrict
Officer,asthecasemaybe,theyaremandatedtotakeactiononthereportwithin
60days.
TheinquiryprocessundertheActshouldbeconfidentialandtheActlaysdowna
penaltyofRs5000onthepersonwhohasbreachedconfidentiality.
TheActrequiresemployerstoconducteducationandsensitisationprogrammesand
developpoliciesagainstsexualharassment,amongotherobligations.
Penaltieshavebeenprescribedforemployers.Non-compliancewiththeprovisions
oftheActshallbepunishablewithafineofupto 50,000.Repeatedviolations
mayleadtohigherpenaltiesandcancellationoflicenceorregistrationtoconduct
business.
Governmentcanorderanofficertoinspectworkplaceandrecordsrelatedtosexual
harassmentinanyorganisation.