The Tribune: New Delhi: Wednesday, June 21, 2017.
Indicting the
National Commission for Women (NCW) for not properly handling complaints and
RTI applications of a sexually harassed woman employee, the Central Information
Commission has asked its Chairperson to act within reasonable time to save its
“credibility and reputation”.
“If this is
the fate of a woman who is working as research assistant in National Commission
for Women, what will be the plight of ordinary women outside the NCW?” Central
Information Commissioner M Sridhar Acharyulu wondered.
It asked the
NCW to explain why the victim should not be paid compensation and why action
should not be taken against the erring officers.
The CIC was
surprised to note that the NCW did not respond to her two complaints of sexual
harassment and allowed an officer accused of sexual harassment to deal with the
first appeal under RTI Act.
“The
submission of the appellant reflect unhealthy environment at workplace in the
forum which supposed to protect the rights of women. Her right to life, right to
work and right to information were seriously endangered by sexual harassment by
senior officer,” it said in its June 16 verdict.
Pulling up
the statutory body mandated to protect women’s rights, the CIC said the NCW had
a Constitutional duty to explain reasons for breach of two statutes on sexual
harassment and Right to Information in the case.
The CIC asked
the NCW Chairperson to consider “within reasonable time” the victim’s second
appeal under RTI Act, including its order, as a complaint against inaction in
NCW on her complaints of sexual harassment and breach of RTI, “to save the
credibility and reputation of NCW”.
“Surprisingly
the National Commission for Women did not respond to her complaint, not
conducted inquiry properly and disregarded to the guidelines of DoPT, the
Supreme Court, and 2013 Act,” it said.
“The sudden
increase in the remuneration of contractual employees who were on inquiry
committee and witnesses strengthen the allegation of conspiracy to harass the
appellant and strategic plan to remove her.
“The NCW
should not have abdicated the good governance principles of responding to
complaint and following two statutes and guidelines of DoPT in dealing with RTI
Application and also the First Appeal, and totally ignoring the serious
complaint of sexual harassment…” the CIC said.
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