Sexual Harassment Bill

The sexual harassment bill is being discussed in Law ministry with inputs from Women and Child Development (WCD) Ministry and several organisations and NGOs.

An important clause in the proposed legislation is Clause 12 which is to be applied if a woman makes false allegation of sexual harassment.

Given that many sexual harassment cases are wrongly filed after a tiff with male Manager or disagreement over performance etc, this is a welcome clause. It will prevent misuse and allow use of valuable time and resources to help genuine victims.

Let us support inclusion of Clause 12 into the proposed sexual harassment bill. Please write your comments in whatever online forums you can to include measures against misuse of the law.

Clause 12 of proposed Sexual Harassment Bill:

12. (1) Where the Committee or the Local Committee, as
the case may be, arrives at a conclusion that the
allegation against the respondent is false or malicious or
the aggrieved woman or any other person making the
complaint has produced any forged or misleading
document, it may recommend to the employer or the
District Officer to take action against the woman or the
person who has made the complaint in accordance with
the provisions of the service rules applicable to her or him
or where no such service rules have been made, in such
manner as may be prescribed.

(2) Where the Committee or the Local Committee, as the
case may be, arrives at a conclusion that during the
enquiry any witness has given false evidence or
produced any forged or misleading document, it may
recommend to the employer of the witness or the District
Officer to take action in accordance with the provisions of
the service rules applicable to the said witness or where
no such service rules have been made, in such manner
as may be prescribed.