Madras High Court Directs Approval of Draft PoSH Bill to Combat Sexual Harassment at Workplace | Madurai News

Madurai: Noting that the state government is yet to frame rules for the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (PoSH Act), madras high court On Thursday, he directed the state women’s commission to submit a draft copy to the state for review and approval.
Justice RN Manjula observed that working women try to balance various challenges with extreme agility. If everything stops and they suffer, their dreams will be shattered. sexual harassment in the workplace.
“The state of Tamil Nadu immediately changed its rules of conduct and discipline as mentioned in the previous sections. However, so far the state has not framed its rules for the PoSH Act. All women welfare projects have been entrusted with social welfare and women empowerment. The department, which includes child welfare The social welfare department already has many It is burdened with other functions, making it difficult for all departments to monitor whether they are complying with the implementation instructions of the Act. “It is the area of ​​women’s empowerment,” the judge said.
The judge noted that the state women’s commission had submitted draft model rules that were quite comprehensive. The commission will submit a copy of the draft rules to the government within two weeks. The state will review the rules, make the necessary changes if deemed appropriate, complete the approval, publish the approved rules and submit a report to the court.
The judge ordered the state to create an official government website, giving reference numbers to each of the grievance committees, and upload the details on the website to ensure transparency of their functions.
Justice Manjula directed the state to submit a report on whether gender budgets have been allocated in every financial year as per the GO issued by the department of social welfare and women empowerment in 2022 and whether it has been utilized appropriately by the ministries/agencies. If so, how an enabling environment is created in each department and institution by utilizing the gender budget and how the quality of the working environment is improved, especially for women.
The judge sought to find out whether gender budget cell mechanisms existed and whether they existed in every institution of the state. Whether female employees in each department are aware of the existence of a gender budget cell. The commission can visit important institutions such as educational institutions and hospitals, examine the facts and submit its report to the government.
The judge also sought the feasibility of including gender sensitivity questions as part of competitive examinations for employment within the state/Union and other departments and agencies.
The court upheld the decision while hearing a series of petitions filed by women complaining about sexual harassment in the workplace.