Govt to Ministries: Complete probe into sexual harassment cases within 30 days

The Centre has asked its Ministries and Departments to complete the inquiry cases related to sexual harassment of women at workplaces within 30 days and in rare cases within 90 days from the date of the complaint. The Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) issued fresh guidelines to the Ministries and Departments on the implementation of Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act.

The guidelines also said, Ministries and Departments have to keep a watch on the



complainant to ensure that she is not victimised in any manner because of her having filed the complaint. The aggrieved woman has been given further option to send representation to the Secretary or head of the organisation in case she feels that she is being victimised because of her complaint. All ministries and departments are now required to submit a monthly progress report to the Ministry of Women and Child Development so that the progress can be monitored.