Barely a few months after the Jawaharlal Nehru University notified an amended sexual harassment policy, it decided on Thursday to review the revised rules.
Barely a few months after the Jawaharlal Nehru University notified an amended sexual harassment policy, it decided on Thursday to review the revised rules. The university is silent over the reason behind the move and this decision by the varsity administration has not gone down well with a section of teachers and students.
“The vice-chancellor has constituted a committee to look into the revised rules and regulations concerning GSCASH and to examine and recommend necessary changes with immediate effect. However, while reviewing the GSCASH rules, the committee will ensure that the Workplace Act 2013 will be adhered to,” an official notification said. The university, which had attracted criticism last year with over 50 per cent of the sexual harassment complaints in any educational institutions in Delhi in the last two years, had notified the revamped policy last October. Calls and text messages to the JNU vice-chancellor, Prof. M. Jagadesh Kumar, and chief proctor A.P. Dimri seeking comments about the decision to revise the policy twice within six months went unanswered.
The university has a central body, Gender Sensitisation Committee Against Sexual Harassment, that deals with complaints of this nature and the panel has representatives from JNU Students’ Union (JNUSU), JNU Officers’ Association (JNUOA), hostel wardens, faculty and administrative staff. The university constituted it in 1999 under the Vishaka guidelines of the Supreme Court. A group of varsity teachers have questioned the working of GSCASH, alleging that its “processes are perverted.”
Major amendments to the policy included introduction of a provision for protection of the complainant as well as witnesses from victimisation, besides a penalty provision for false complaints. The revamped policy also had different clauses for Sexual Harassment at Workplace and Sexual Harassment in Academic Spheres and for re-appealing if the complainant is dissatisfied with university’s decision.
However, the university administration has again constituted a committee to review the policy. Baffled over the varsity’s move, Prof. Ayesha Kidwai said, “The JNU EC has used these rules to punish a faculty member, besides other employees. The GSCASH has had no problem working with these rules. Yet our beloved administration feels that something needs to be changed and has appointed a committee quite mysteriously.”
