Renu Bhatia, chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, on Friday emphasized that committees constituted within offices must investigate cases of sexual harassment impartially and in a time-bound manner. She also stated that action should be taken against women who level false allegations, noting that the commission has taken action against 10 such women whose accusations were found to be baseless during investigations.
Workshop on Workplace Harassment
Bhatia was speaking at a one-day workshop-cum-training session on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act, organized by the Department of Women and Child Development, Kurukshetra, at the Panchayat Bhawan. She remarked that offices where officers and employees behave well are unlikely to witness such misconduct, and in such environments, incidents of sexual harassment would be virtually non-existent.
Accessibility of Committee Details
Addressing the officials, Bhatia said that details regarding the office committee—including a list of the chairperson and other members along with their contact information—must be conveniently accessible. She added, "Making this information available ensures that victims can file complaints in the event of any sexual misconduct. Without such awareness, a woman might not even know how to lodge a grievance."
Monthly Awareness Sessions
Bhatia directed officials to ensure monthly meetings to discuss relevant topics such as the POSH Act, child marriage, POCSO Act, and labour laws, and to address any issues or difficulties that arise. She warned that the commission would take action if directions are not followed.
Growing Cases of NRI Harassment
Bhatia also highlighted the growing cases of harassment and abandonment involving NRIs. "Currently, 41 such cases are listed for hearing. The commission has so far facilitated the return of 13 men from abroad—men who had abandoned their wives and traveled overseas via the donkey route or other means, subsequently neglecting their spouses back home," she said.
Action on Hospital Assault Case
Further, Bhatia said the commission had taken a serious view of the sexual assault incident at the LNJP Civil Hospital in Kurukshetra and was obtaining a complete record of the accused doctor. "We were shocked when we came to know about the incident. A 15-year-old minor girl was sexually assaulted by the doctor. He had already faced similar charges in the past and yet he was reengaged after retirement. We are inquiring about the previous cases and the reason behind reengaging the doctor with such a tainted past," she added.
