Tamil Nadu: File report on steps to enforce provisions of sexual harrasment

Chennai: The Madras high court has directed all the 32 district collectors to file a report on steps taken to enforce the provisions of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplaces (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act.

Impleading all 32 district collectors and commissioner of Directorate of Social Welfare department as respondents, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice Indira Banerjee and Justice M.Sundar posted to December 11, further hearing of a PIL filed by R.Karuppusamy. In his PIL, Karuppusamy sought a direction to authorities to ensure constitution and functioning of Internal Complaint Committee (ICC) in mills, factories and other work places across the state.

Citing the reported cases, where 15-year-old girls employed in the mills, who were burdened with heavy work load, were sexually assaulted several times within the mill premises, the petitioner submitted that such girls were lured and were sexually harassed by supervisors of such mills. Had the employers in the textile mills and factories constituted the ICC it would have aided and encouraged such victims to file complaints regarding harassment, he added.