- To sensitize all members of Guru Kashi University community towards the Supreme Court and statutory mandate prohibiting gender discriminations and sexual harassment at the work place
- To encourage involvement through academic, cultural and outreach activities such as talks, seminars, workshops, community action, drama, street theatre, poster-making etc.
- To provide for dialogue, discussion, and deliberation on women’s rights and gender-related issues.
- To encourage participation from NGOs and law enforcement agencies in this area.
- To become a resource centre for women and provide a forum for exchange of ideas.
- To review safety and security measures for female employees and girl students at Guru Kashi University campus.
Constitution of Internal Complaints committees under Sexual Harassment of women at work place under (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act, 2013).
University Women Grievance Redressal Cell was constituted in GKU with an objective of looking after the welfare of the women employees and students, to facilitate redressal of their grievances, to help maintain a harmonious atmosphere at campus and to enable women to pursue their work with dignity and reassurance. On 13th August 1997, the Supreme Court of India held that sexual harassment of women is a violation of the fundamental right of women to work in a safe environment. The Supreme Court has defined 'sexual harassment' to include: Any one or more of the following acts or behaviour (whether directly or by implication), namely:
- physical contact and advances;
- demand or request for sexual favours;
- Sexually oriented remarks
- Showing pornography
- Use of electronic media (phone, internet, intranet) for perpetrating any of the above
- Any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature
The action can be taken against the offender by University Women Grievance Redressal Cell is as per the CCS (Conduct) Rules, 1964 and the Inquiry Report under the rules. In case, it has been proved that the offender has indulged in sexual harassment at the work place, appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against him. Where such conduct amounts to a specific offense under the Indian Penal Code or under any other law, a complaint shall be filed with the appropriate authority for action to be taken in accordance with the law.
The Role of the UWGRC
- To act as Inquiry Authority on a complaint of sexual harassment.
- To ensure that complainant and witnesses are not victimized or discriminated because of their complaint.
- To take proactive measures towards sensitization of all those.
- The Cell shall consist of at least five members and not more than seven members, and not less than half of its members should be women.
- The Chancellor shall nominate members for the Cell.
- While constituting the Cell, representation may be given to the representatives of teaching staff and non‐teaching staff of the University.
- There shall be one member representing NGO’s, nominated by the Chancellor.
- A person having legal background shall be ex‐officio member to be nominated by the Chancellor.
The Term of the Office of the Cell
- The term of office of the Cell shall be for three years. In case of any vacancy occurring in the Cell, it shall be filled in for the remainder of the term of office of the Cell by the Chancellor.
- The names of the members of the Cell, along with their contact places and telephone numbers shall be displayed at all times in a conspicuous place of the main notice board of each of the University premises.
- To ensure implementation of these Directions as may be laid down in the University and other constituents to whom it is applicable.
- To process individual grievances concerning sexual harassment in the University departments/Administration/Authorities and to recommend suitable action in the manner and mode particularly provided hereafter.
- To exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be conferred or imposed on it by or under these Directions.
- To do all such acts and things as may be necessary to carry out the objects of these Directions.
The Cell may recommend the following penalties on a person found guilty of sexual harassment:
- An employee found guilty of sexual harassment shall be liable to receive the following penalties:
Minor Penalties:
- Warning, Reprimand or Censure
- Fine
- Withholding of increments or promotion
- Reduction to a post in the lower pay‐scale or to a lower stage of increment in his own pay‐scale.
Major Penalties:
- Compulsory retirement
- Termination of service
- Removal/dismissal from service
- student found guilty of sexual harassment shall be liable to receive the following penalties:
Minor Penalties:
- Warning
- Written Apology
- Bond of good behaviour
- Debarring entry into a hostel/campus/off‐campus
- Suspension for a specified period of time
- Withholding results.
Major Penalties
- Debarring from examinations for a specified period of time
- Expulsion from university
- The Cell shall meet at least twice every academic year and the intervening period between two meetings shall not exceed six months.
- The Chairperson of the Cell can call a Special Meeting at any time upon the written request of not less than one third of the total number of members of the Cell, on a date not later than fifteen days after the receipt of such requisition by the Chairperson.
- The quorum for any meeting of the Cell shall be one third of its members. If the quorum is not present at any meeting, it shall be adjourned for half an hour and proceed with those who are present and the proceedings of such a meeting shall not be challenged on the ground of absence of quorum.
- Any woman employee/female student of the University Departments/ Schools/Administration/Authority shall have the right to lodge a complaint with any of the members of the Cell within ten days.
- Such complaints will be in writing.
- Any complaint in writing shall be signed by the person making the complaint. A Complaint Register shall be maintained by the Committee. It should be a confidential document.
- The complainant shall be afforded full confidentiality at this stage.
- In the event of the complaint being made to any member of the Cell, immediately upon receipt of the complaint, and within not more than ten working days, the member of the Cell to whom the complaint is made, shall communicate the same to the Chairperson of the Cell. However, if the complainant so desires, her name shall be kept confidential and shall not be divulged except to the Cell.
- Within a period of four weeks from the date of such communication, the Chairperson shall convene its meeting.
- At the first meeting, which shall be held within four weeks of the receipt of the complaint, the complainant or at her request her representative, shall be heard. The Cell shall then decide whether the complaint deserves to be proceeded with. The complaint shall stand dropped, if according to the Cell, the complainant has not been able to disclose prima facie, an offence of sexual harassment.
- In case, the Cell decides to proceed with the complaint, the wishes of the complainant shall be ascertained and if the complainant wishes that a warning would suffice, then the alleged offender shall be called to the meeting of the Cell, heard and if so satisfied that a warning is just and proper, it be recommended to the Vice Chancellor that he may be warned about his behavior. The matter shall then be treated as concluded with a recording, to that effect, made in the Complaint Register. With acceptance of the recommendation by the Vice Chancellor, he will be warned about his behaviour and necessary note be made into the Service Book of the employee/Record of the student including the Migration Certificate. The Cell should verify compliance of the action taken.
- The Cell shall accord fair and reasonable opportunity to the delinquent to defend himself and shall ensure observance of the principles of natural justice.
- If the complainant wishes to proceed with the complaint beyond a mere warning to the delinquent, the delinquent shall be given in writing by the Cell an opportunity to explain within two weeks; why he should not for good and sufficient reasons be treated as guilty of his behavior and be not recommended to be punished for the act complained of. If the written explanation of the delinquent is not found to be satisfactory or if he does not provide any written explanation, the Cell shall recommend at the outset whether the offence deserves a minor or a major penalty.
- In the event of the Cell coming to a decision that the delinquent be imposed a minor penalty, a specific minor penalty shall be recommended by the Cell to the Vice Chancellor who shall then expeditiously act on such recommendation.
- In the event of the complainant being a student and the accused being a teacher, during the pendency of the investigation and inquiry and even after such an enquiry if the teacher is found guilty, the accused shall not act as an examiner for any examination for which the student appears.
- In the event of the complainant and the accused both being employees, during the pendency of the investigation and inquiry, even after such an inquiry, if the accused is found guilty, the accused shall not write the Confidential Reports of the complainant, if he is otherwise so authorized
Women Development cell of Guru Kashi University held a competition on Diya & Thali Decoration , and debate competition . As Diwali festival is coming so GKU organizes this competition so that girls can decorate their homes with handmade material. The purpose was to inculcate the creative skills among girls.There were many girl participants who have participated with full energy.
Dr, J.s Dhillon appraised the efforts of Dr. Sunita Sukhija , coordinator of women development cell and emphasized that Dewali should be celebrated in the eco friendly and pollution free. These type of competition is the need of the modern creative world.The judges of this competition were Dr. Sunita Sukhija , Ms. Rozy rani from UCCM. The host college of Debate competition was College of Basic Sciences& Humanities under Dr. Rajni. First position in debate was secured by Rekha, Gagandeep Kaur from College of Basic Sciences, second by Veerpal Kaur, Arshpreet Kaur from College of Basic Sciences and third by Sukhdeep, Pooja Singla, Mandeep Kaur from College of Commerce and Management.The host college of Diya and Thali Decoration was University College of Commerce and Management under Ms. Rajni. First position in Diya Thali Decoration competition was secured by Sukhpreet Kaur, Manpreet Kaur, Satpal Kaur and second by Tanu Rani, Jyoti, Ekta and third by Jasveer Kaur and Poonam.At the end Dr. Sunita Sukhija congratulated the students.
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