How a sexually harassed women can get relief from the courts and the details and the court orders are given below
The central information commission recently ruled that information on sexual harassment cases has to be provided to any victim with in forty eight hours under the right to information act as this pertains to life and liberty of the individual,considering the fact that sexual harassment at work place is equal to threat to her life and liberty . Hence if information is sought it has to be provided for and there is no alternative to it the cic observed.
There was an appeal under consideration by the CIC which was filed by a woman who has claimed that there was sexual harassment at her work place . this woman complained of sexual harassment by her fellow scientist . This women had filed an application under RTI to enquire what happened to the status of her complaint.
As she got no information she was seeking , this amounted to the bias displayed by the authorities of the organization and CIC observed this behavior cannot be accepted.. The commission looking through the details and contentions clearly observed that the women was not treated fairly and also appeared harassed by making her visit her organizational head quarters too often for the same.
Hence the commission ruled in favor of the women and directed the public authority were she was working to furnish certified copies with all the details pertaining to the enquiry conducted with all the questions that was put up during the investigation , file noting's , movement of files in that regard etc.
The commission observed that the woman was deprived of her right to the basic information ( right to information acty and sexual harassment of women at work place ( prevention , prohibition and redressal ) Act 2013 .Every one who has obstructed the furnishing of the facts and information should be made liable for suitable action for simply violating the act . Hence it is observed that penal proceedings will be initiated under the available act .
The information commission thereby directed to show cause as to why maximum punishment should not be granted / imposed upon the authority for obstructing the information to the complainant.
Hence it is observed that any delay in action is also liable for severe punishment and if there is no mechanism to here the complaint like no ICC ( Internal complaints committee ) at all , then the penal provisions are much severe and can lead to an organization getting defamed and fined at the first instance and this can result in huge damage to the reputation of the organization or the institution as the wrong message spreads like wild fire and the se information gets published in electronic media or print media the damage becomes almost irreversible .
Hence i is advisable to have the system in place and also ensure that the system is not just in place but also effectively in place by making it work efficiently and effectively . Hence make your organization PoSH trained.