Policy

Internal Complaints Committee Policy

 

Reference: University Grants Commission (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal of Sexual Harassment of Women employees and students in higher educational institutions) regulation, 2016.

Definitions:

  1. “Internal Complaints Committee” (ICC) means Internal Complaints Committee to be Constituted by an HEI. Any existing body already functioning with the same objective (like the Gender Sensitization Committee Against Sexual Harassment (GSCASH)should be reconstituted as the ICC;
  2. Sexual Harassment means –
    • “An unwanted conduct with sexual undertones if it occurs or which is persistent and which demeans, humiliates, or creates a hostile and intimidating environment or is calculated to induce submission by actual or threatened adverse Consequences and includes any one or more or all of the following unwelcome acts or behaviour (whether directly or by implication), namely, –
  3. Any unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature;
  4. Demand or request for sexual favours;
  5. Making sexually coloured remarks
  6. Physical contact and advances; or
  7. Showing pornography”

Anyone (or more than one or all) of the following circumstances, if it occurs or is present in relation or connected with any behaviour that has explicit or implicit sexual undertones-

  1. Implied or explicit threat of detrimental treatment in the conduct of work;
  2. Implied or explicit threat about the present or future status of the person concerned;
  • Creating an intimidating offensive or hostile learning environment;
  1. Humiliating treatment likely to affect the health, safety dignity or physical integrity of the person concerned;
  1. “Student” means a person duly admitted and pursuing a program of study either through regular mode or distance mode, including short-term training programs in a HEI;
  2. “Third Party Harassment” refers to a situation where sexual harassment occurs as a result of an actor omission by any third party or outsider, w ho is not an employee or a student of the HEI, but a visitor to the HEI in some other capacity.

 

What is POSH?

  • POSH or the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2016(the Act) is a ground breaking law on a much-needed and burning issue. It is India’s first codified legislation that categorically deals with the prevention, prohibition, and redressal of sexual harassment of women at the workplace.
  • The Act came into force on December 9, 2013, and is binding on every organization, public or private, having more than 10 employees.

Powers of the Internal Complaints Committee

The ICC plays an important role in the functioning of the provisions of the Act and to ensure the fulfillment of its objectives of the ICC Policy.

Thus, the main function of the Internal Complaints Committee is:

  • Implementation of the Internal Complaints Committee Policy relating to the prevention of sexual harassment.
  • Resolving complaints by the aggrieved based on the guidelines of the Internal Complaints.

 

Responsibilities of Internal Complaints Committee

  • Every organization is bound by POSH law to publish the names and details of the current ICC members on the premises at prominent places as well as on their official website.
  • Receive complaints of sexual harassment at the Initiate and conduct an inquiry as per the company’s procedure. Submit findings and recommendations of all such inquiries. Coordinate with the Employer in implementing appropriate action.
  • Maintain strict confidentiality throughout the process as per established guidelines of the ICC.
  • Policy Submit annual reports in the prescribed format as
  • The ICC is required to be vigilant to redress the sexual harassment complaints and resolve the same as soon as possible.

 

Procedure for Making Complaints to the Committee:

 

Complaints regarding discrimination or sexual harassment may be filed either by the affected individual or by a third party. Written complaints should be directed to the Convener of the Committee. Any complaints received by higher authorities will be promptly forwarded to the committee for appropriate action.

 

Confidentiality:

 

  • CSI College of Engineering understands to keep the whole matter confidentially in the event that the victim comes forward with a complaint on sexual harassment.
  • To protect the interests of the victim, the accused person and others who may report incident of sexual harassment, confidentiality will be maintained throughout any invest.
  • CSI College of Engineering is committed to ensuring that no Student who brings forward a harassment concern is subject to any form of reprisal.
  • Any reprisal will be subject to disciplinary action. We will ensure that victim or witnesses are not victimized or discriminated against while dealing with complaints of sexual harassment. However, anyone who abuses the procedure will be subject to disciplinary action.

 

Reports

Annual Reports