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LS nod to bill against sexual harassment
Clean Media Correspondent
New Delhi, Sep 3 (CMC) Amid uproar over the coal scam, the Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill against sexual harassment at work places.
The bill makes it mandatory for the organised sector to constitute internal complaint committees. It also brings in its purview unorganised work places, including home and domestic workers.
The bill provides for a fine of up to Rs 50,000 for the non-compliance of the law. It took almost 15 years for the bill to be passed after the historic judgment by the Supreme Court in the Vishakha versus Rajasthan Government case in 1997. The bench, headed by then chief justice of India J S Verma, had laid down guidelines for prohibiting sexual harassment at work places.
After going through various channels of law-making process, including the parliamentary standing committee and the group of ministers, the Union Cabinet gave its nod to the bill in May this year.
Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath on Monday presented the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2010, in the Lok Sabha. No discussion could be held because of the uproar following BJP members storming into the well of the House. The bill was passed without a debate.
According to the bill, sexual harassment includes acts or behaviour like physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favours or making sexually coloured remarks or showing pornography.
The acts or behaviour whether directly, or by implication, include any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
The bill defines domestic worker as a woman employed to do household work in any household for remuneration, but it does not include any member of the family of the employer.
The bill covers almost all possible formal and informal workplaces, including homes, universities, hospitals, government and non-government offices, factories and others.
It has also taken a broad view in defining work places and included car, rail and air services used during the work.
LS nod to bill against sexual harassment
Clean Media Correspondent
New Delhi, Sep 3 (CMC) Amid uproar over the coal scam, the Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill against sexual harassment at work places.
The bill makes it mandatory for the organised sector to constitute internal complaint committees. It also brings in its purview unorganised work places, including home and domestic workers.
The bill provides for a fine of up to Rs 50,000 for the non-compliance of the law. It took almost 15 years for the bill to be passed after the historic judgment by the Supreme Court in the Vishakha versus Rajasthan Government case in 1997. The bench, headed by then chief justice of India J S Verma, had laid down guidelines for prohibiting sexual harassment at work places.
After going through various channels of law-making process, including the parliamentary standing committee and the group of ministers, the Union Cabinet gave its nod to the bill in May this year.
Women and Child Development Minister Krishna Tirath on Monday presented the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Bill, 2010, in the Lok Sabha. No discussion could be held because of the uproar following BJP members storming into the well of the House. The bill was passed without a debate.
According to the bill, sexual harassment includes acts or behaviour like physical contact and advances, a demand or request for sexual favours or making sexually coloured remarks or showing pornography.
The acts or behaviour whether directly, or by implication, include any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.
The bill defines domestic worker as a woman employed to do household work in any household for remuneration, but it does not include any member of the family of the employer.
The bill covers almost all possible formal and informal workplaces, including homes, universities, hospitals, government and non-government offices, factories and others.
It has also taken a broad view in defining work places and included car, rail and air services used during the work.
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