Prohibition of sexual harassment of working women.

PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATIVE REFORMS (ADVICE-C) NOTIFICATION G 0. (P) No: 13/2002,P&ARD. Dated, Thiruvananthapuram, 19th March, 2002 S. R 0. No. 188/2002—In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1) of section 2 of the Kerala Public Service Act, 1968 (19 of 1968), read with section 3 thereof, the Government of Kerala hereby make the following rules, further to amend the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct RuleA, 1960, namely:- 3/243 1/2014/S-21. 82 RULEs Short title and commencement.—(l) These rules may be called the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct (Amendment) Rules, 2002. (2) They shall come into force at once. Amendment of the rules.— In the Kerala Government Servants' Conduct Rules, 1960, after rule 93E the following rule shallbe inserted, namely:- "93F. Prohibition of sexual harassment of working women.—(l) No Government servant shall indulge in any act of sexual harassment of any women at the work place. (2) Every Government servant who is in charge of a work place shall take appropriate steps to prevent sexual harassment to any woman at such work place. Explanation:—For the purpose of this rule, "sexual harassment" includes such unwelcome sexually determined behaviour, whether directly or otherwise as: - physcial contact and advances; demand or request for sexual favours; sexually coloured remarks; showing any pornography; or - any other unwelcome physcial, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature." By order of the Governor, C. RAMACHANDRAN, Principal Secretary to Government Explanatory Note (This does not form part of the Notification, but is intended to indicate its general purport.) - The Hon'ble Supreme Court in a judgement has laid down guidelines and norms to be observed to prevent sexual harassment of working women. In pursuance of the above directions of the Supreme Court, the Government of India have amended the Central CivilServices (Conduct) Rules, 1964 making a specific provision for prohibition of sexual harassment of working women. Government of India have directed to take necessary action to suitably modify the conduct rules governing the employees of State Government/Union Torritories also to ensure that they include the express prohibition of sexual harassment and provide for appropriate penalties against the offender. The notification in intended to achieve the above object.