Committee constituted for redressal of the complaints by the victims of sexual harassment should be headed by an officer sufficiently higher in rank,

(25A) Prevention of sexual harassment of working women

The above guidelines (decision No. 25) inter-alia stipulate for the creation of an appropriate complaint mechanism in every organization for re-dressal of the complaints made by the victims. It has come to the notice of this Department that in one of the Central Government Offices, the Committee constituted for the purpose was headed by an official of the rank of Upper Division Clerk. As an official not sufficiently higher in rank may not be able to express views independently/freely especially when the perpetrator is holding an higher position, the arrangement makes mockery of the system. It is, therefore, requested that the Committee constituted for redressal of the complaints by the victims of sexual harassment should be headed by an officer sufficiently higher in rank, so as to lend credibility to the investigations.

[DOPT OM No. 11013/10/97-Estt.(A), dated 13.07.1999]