New Delhi: More than a hundred cases of sexual harassment were reported to the Internal Complaints Committees (ICCs) of 16 universities and educational institutes in the National Capital since 2013, with Jawahar Lal Nehru university reporting the maximum number of cases at 51.
Out of the 101 cases reported to ICCs, six cases are pending.
The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has observed that most of the cases across universities have been resolved through settlements and in cases where punishments have been ordered, they have been on the lenient side.
The facts emerged from the data and details regarding the functioning of ICCs under the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2013 and the number of complaints received from students or employees since 2013-14, that were submitted by the Universities and educational Institutions in the national capital as sought by the Commission.
"Data has been received from all Universities and institutions except Delhi University whose Registrar has been summoned in this regard on November 30," said DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal.
On the basis of the data, the Commission has observed that guidelines to deal with sexual harassment cases have been framed by National Law University (NLU), ndian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), Jamia Hamdard, Delhi Technological University (DTU), IGNOU and IIT but there seems to be no uniformity in these guidelines prepared.
"In this, UGC has informed the Commission in writing that they have framed standard guidelines which have been sent to HRD Ministry for approval," said DCW in a statement.
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The Delhi Commission for Women further stated that no funds have been allocated by the Universities for implementation of the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2013 barring JNU (3 lakh per annum), GGSIPU (2 lakh per annum), IGNOU (50,000 per annum). Others have stated that the administration gives the fund from their budget as and when required.
Moreover, from the data received, two contraventions to the said Act were observed in National School of Drama (NSD) and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) and summon and notices have been sent to these institutions.
"As per the reply of NSD, it appears that no external member has been appointed in the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC), which is a contravention to the said Act which mandates that an external independent person should be appointed on the ICC.
"Also, as per the internal guidelines of GGSIPU, it appears that the complainant needs to report the incident of sexual harassment to the Internal Complaints Committee within 15 days of the incident. However the Act provides a minimum of three months to the complainant to report the incident. Thus, this rule in the guidelines appears to be a direct contravention to the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013," Maliwal said.
They have been asked to reply in seven days, she added.
DCW, is also preparing its recommendations for the Central and State Government on the issue of implementation of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act 2013.
