Over 100 cases of sexual harassment in Delhi institutes: DCW

JNU tops list with 51 cases, 10 incidents at AIIMS

Over 100 cases of sexual harassment have been reported in 16 universities and educational institutes in Delhi since 2013, with JNU seeing the highest number of cases, followed by AIIMS.

According to the data with the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW), Jawaharlal Nehru University has reported the maximum number of cases at 51 out of the total 101.  

The commission, with an aim to ensure effective implementation of the ‘Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013’, had sought data regarding the functioning of ‘Internal Complaints Committees’ (ICC) under the act in 23 universities and independent institutions of Delhi in August.

According to submissions filed by various institutes, out of the total cases, six are still pending.
Anaysing their responses, the commission has observed that “most of the cases across universities have been resolved through settlements and wherever there has been a punishment it appears that it has been on the lenient side.”

The second highest number of cases stood at 10, reported by AIIMS, out of which one is still pending with its committee.

The commission did not receive any response by the Delhi University, following which it has summonned its registrar to appear before the commission on November 30.

Moreover, from the data received, two contraventions to the said act were observed in National School of Drama (NSD) and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU) and summon and notices have been sent to these institutions.

“As per the reply of NSD, it appears that no external member has been appointed in the ICC, which is a contravention to the said act which mandates that an external independent person should be appointed on the ICC.

“Also, as per the internal guidelines of GGSIPU, it appears that the complainant needs to report the incident of sexual harassment to the Internal Complaints Committee within 15 days of the incident. However the act provides a minimum of three months to the complainant to report the incident.

Thus, this rule in the guidelines appears to be a direct contravention to the Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013,” said DCW chief Swati Maliwal.

The commission has also observed that there is no uniformity in the guidelines to deal with sexual harassment cases framed by National Law University (NLU), Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), JNU, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), Jamia Hamdard, Delhi Technological University (DTU), IGNOU and IIT. 

“In this, UGC has informed the commission in writing that they have framed standard guidelines which have been sent to HRD Ministry for approval,” Maliwal said.

Another glaring observation made by the commission was that no funds have been allocated by the universities for implementation of the act, barring JNU (five lakh per annum), GGSIPU (two lakh per annum), and IGNOU (50,000 per annum). Others have stated that the administration gives the fund from their budget as and when required.