Latest news with #InternalComplaintsCommittee
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Classes suspended': Kolkata law college campus where alleged rape took place closed indefinitely
A notification issued over the website of a South Kolkata law college on Sunday, where a 24-year-old student was allegedly raped last week, stated that classes will remain suspended and the college premises will be closed for all students until further notice. The decision was taken by the college's governing body. Earlier on Monday, students of the law college submitted a deputation to the principal, raising concerns over campus safety and demanding structural reforms. The letter stated, 'The environment of the institution, both in terms of safety and academic standards, has been compromised and degraded due to repeated and unchecked malpractices, many of which stem from political interference, administrative inaction, and lack of structural accountability.' The students outlined a series of demands aimed at restoring 'dignity, discipline, and academic purpose' on campus. Among the demands was the creation of an 'apolitical' campus environment, with a strict prohibition on the formation or operation of political units or activities within the college until the next student body elections. They also sought the installation of CCTV cameras at all entry and exit points, corridors, classrooms, libraries, staircases, union rooms, and common areas to improve transparency and deter misconduct. The letter emphasized that 'security and education' must be the college's top priorities, calling for a dedicated grievance redressal mechanism available both online and offline. The students further demanded that authorities be held accountable for 'systemic negligence', stating that responsibility should not be limited to isolated incidents, but must address a broader culture of tolerance for illegal and disruptive behaviour, 'often linked to political affiliations'. Citing a visible 'decline' in educational quality, they called for the revival of academic activities, including moot court sessions, legal aid camps, debates, and student academic forums, to strengthen legal training and professional development. They also demanded strict adherence to the academic calendar, with scheduled class timings enforced and penalties for habitual defaulters among both students and faculty. Among the logistical issues raised was the demand for secure access to the union room, with its keys held by a neutral college authority to prevent unauthorized control by students or staff. They also asked for the formation of an active Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) under the POSH Act, 2013. In case the current ICC is inactive or compromised, they said victims should be guided to file complaints with the UGC or the Ministry of Education. The students called for the establishment of a non-political student safety committee, tasked with conducting awareness drives, raising safety concerns, and representing victims without fear of retribution. On the alleged rave and rape incident on June 25, the students demanded a 'zero-tolerance policy on drugs, violence, and sexual misconduct', along with a fair and independent inquiry into the matter. They also requested access to counselling and mental health services, suggesting the appointment of a full-time counsellor or a partnership with a mental health organisation. Insisting on mandatory cooperation with law enforcement, they asked the college to hand over all relevant CCTV footage and evidence from the day of the incident to the police and fully assist the investigation to ensure justice is served. The letter also included a demand for the formation of a women's grievance redressal cell, independent and apolitical, to address issues specific to female students. Finally, they called for fair and democratic student council elections, limited strictly to current students, with the process conducted in accordance with statutory provisions. 'We hope our representation will be taken in the right spirit, as it comes from a genuine place of concern and responsibility,' the letter concluded.
Hindustan Times
29-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
HC comes to the rescue of POSH survivor, strike down her transfer orders
Jun 29, 2025 07:06 AM IST MUMBAI: The Bombay High Court on June 25 came to the rescue of an assistant professor at a Sanskrit college who was abruptly transferred from Nashik to Bhilwara in Rajasthan and later to Mathura in Uttar Pradesh after she filed a sexual harassment complaint against another professor at the college. The court cancelled her transfers and allowed her to resume her work in Nashik. (Shutterstock) The division bench of justice Ravindra Ghuge and justice Ashwin Bhobe said, 'No teacher can be treated in this manner, and surely not a lady teacher.' The judges added that she had a 3-year-old child who was under medication and needed regular treatment. The bench found that the transfer orders were triggered by her Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) complaint and struck them down. The judges were displeased at how abruptly her complaint had been closed without a conclusion, and asked the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) to reopen her POSH complaint and follow it through. The court also granted her 50% of her wages from October 2023 to July 31, 2025, when she is expected to report at the Nashik campus of the institute. In 2024, the woman had challenged the transfer orders in the high court, saying that because of them she had been forced into involuntary unemployment until she resumed work and had not been receiving her salary since 2023. She said that she had joined the Mumbadevi Adarsh Sanskrit Mahavidyalay in April 2018. In June 2023 when she she filed a sexual harassment complaint against assistant professor Manoj Kumar Dubey, an FIR was registered at the Gamdevi police station against the assistant professor. Her complaint was referred under the POSH Act to the ICC. Ten days after the committee met, they closed her complaint saying that they could not reach any specific conclusion based on her complaint against Dubey. A month after the Gamdevi police filed a charge-sheet against the assistant professor, the woman was first transferred to Bhilwara and later to Mathura. She requested the transfers be cancelled but when the institute took no action she turned to the high court.
Time of India
04-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Manager fired for kissing a colleague? Court says it is not sexual harassment-- Tells company to rehire him
Sometimes life is stranger than fiction, and a weird incident that happened in China is a proof of this. A recent report reveals that a senior manager in eastern China— who is identified only as Lin— was fired back in 2015. The reason: he allegedly hugged and kissed his female colleague, who is known as Shi, on an office staircase. The company called it sexual harassment and cited CCTV footage as proof to terminate him. However, Lin denied the accusation and took the matter to court. While the first court sided with the company, citing misconduct, Lin appealed— and the tables turned. In a strange twist, Shi-- the woman who was involved in the case, told the court that Lin never misused his power and that they had a good relationship. Supporting his case, a higher court ruled in Lin's favour, ordering the company to rehire him and pay compensation for lost wages. Lin's salary? A whopping ₹1.34 crore a year! The court also said there was no concrete rule broken, nor any evidence of Lin using his position for personal gain. The company's strict 'moral standards' weren't official policy— making the firing legally unjustified. The company's identity remains undisclosed, and the marital status of both individuals is still unknown. Meanwhile, had a similar incident happened in India, a case of sexual harassment would have been handled quite differently as such incidents are guided by the POSH Act (2013). In India, companies are required to conduct a fair internal investigation before taking any disciplinary action. They cannot act on their own, unlike in the China case. Instead, an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) must be involved in such matters. If the woman involved clarifies that there was no harassment or misuse of power, the ICC has the authority to close the case without taking action. However, even if not deemed harassment, such behavior might still be considered unprofessional—especially given India's conservative workplace culture. Displays of affection at work, even if harmless, can easily spark criticism or gossip. If an employee is wrongfully terminated, he has the right to take the matter to court, seeking compensation or reinstatement. But legal proceedings in India can be long and drawn out, often taking years. While trade unions may step in to support the employee, their influence is limited in the private sector. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Mint
02-06-2025
- Business
- Mint
Sexual harassment at workplace? Court says no, asks company to rehire manager who got fired for kissing female colleague
A senior manager in eastern China, identified as Lin, was fired in 2015 for allegedly hugging and kissing a female colleague, Shi, on the office stairs. His company claimed it was sexual harassment and misuse of authority. It used CCTV footage as proof to fire the senior manager. Lin denied the charges and dragged the company to court. The first court supported the company, saying Lin broke executive conduct rules. However, Lin appealed. While the case is from 2017, the summary has now been released by the Shanghai General Trade Union during a labour law awareness campaign. It has not been disclosed why it took such a long time to release the case details. The alleged victim of the case spoke in Lin's favour. Shi told the court they used to share a good relationship and Lin never misused power. A higher court ruled in Lin's favour, saying the company must rehire him and pay compensation for his lost salary. Lin's annual salary was ₹ 1.34 crore (1.13 million yuan) per year. The court accepted that the act wasn't harassment. The higher court said the company gave no proof that Lin had gained personal benefits from his position. Also, it noted that the company's call for high moral standards was not an official rule. It ruled Lin's firing was not legally justified. The company's name was not revealed during the release of the summary. The marital status of those involved remains unknown as well. If a case like Lin's happened in India, it would be handled differently. In India, such matters are guided by the POSH Act (2013), which ensures a fair internal investigation before any action is taken. The company must involve an Internal Complaints Committee (ICC). It cannot take action on its own, like in China. If the woman says the act was not harassment or misuse of power, the ICC may close the case without punishment. However, the act could still be seen as unprofessional in India's conservative work culture. Public affection, even if friendly, may attract criticism. If the man were wrongly dismissed, he could challenge the decision in court. Compensation or reinstatement is possible. However, such cases often take years in India. Trade unions may support the employee. But, their influence is weaker in the private sector.
The Hindu
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Dharma Productions issues statement after sexual misconduct allegations against ‘Homebound' cinematographer Pratik Shah
A day after sexual misconduct allegations surfaced against Homebound cinematographer Pratik Shah, production banner Dharma Productions issued a statement, distancing itself from the controversy and reasserting its stance against sexual harassment at the workplace. Shah, who recently attended the Cannes premiere of Homebound, has been accused of predatory and inappropriate behaviour towards multiple women. He was outed online in a post by filmmaker Abhinav Singh, who has based his claims on testimonials of around 20 women. Homebound, shot by Shah, is directed by Neeraj Ghaywan (Masaan) and produced by Dharma Productions. A story of friendship and resilience, the film stars Ishaan Khatter, Vishal Jethwa and Janhvi Kapoor. The Karan Johar-led banner said in it's statement, 'At Dharma Productions we have a zero tolerance policy against inappropriate behaviour and sexual harassment towards any individual working with us in any capacity, and we treat sexual harassment cases very seriously. The POSH-mandated Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) at Dharma did not receive any complaints against Shah during his association on Homebound, the statement said. 'Mr. Pratik Shah was a freenlancer on the project Homebound and was working on it for a limited period. His engagement with us has been completed. During this limited period our internal committee for POSH didn't receive any complaints against him from any cast or crew on our film 'Homebound',' the statement read. ALSO READ: Interview | Basharat Peer on the story that became 'Homebound' Besides Homebound, Pratik Shah has shot CTRL, Jubilee and other titles. According to a report in THR India, four years ago, a young female cinematographer had approached the Indian Women Cinematographers' Collective (IWCC) with a complaint against Shah after he solicited a nude picture. The publication also accessed the testimonials corroborating Abhinav Singh's claims. The women reached to Singh with accounts of Shah's 'creepy' behaviour, with some labelling him a 'predator'. Shah has not responded to the allegations. He has deactivated his Instagram account since May 30, 2025 (Friday).
