DCW recommends reconstituting Delhi Police panels on sexual

Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) has issued a notice to Delhi Police for allegedly not following provisions of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013, in constitution of its internal complaints committees to redress grievances of its female personnel.

"The Commission has learnt that the Internal Complaints Committees in Delhi Police have not been constituted in accordance to the provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013," said the notice issued by DCW chairperson Swati Maliwal.

The committees do not consist of a minimum of four members and an external member, which are mandatory requirements as per Section 4(2) of the Act, it said.
 

The law has mandated the presence of an external member in these committees to promote transparency and fairness in its functioning, she said.

The notice has "strongly recommended" that the committees at the level of police headquarter (PHQ), district as well as each unit be "immediately reconstituted" in accordance with the provisions of the Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013.

It has sought Delhi Police's action taken report in this regard within two weeks along with details of the members of the new committees.

The Commission holding proceedings on the complaint of 24 female staff of Provision and Logistics (P&L) Unit of Delhi Police against an inspector working there has also expressed its dissatisfaction over the action taken so far by the police.

"Commission has been informed by the complainant in a written representation that the accused has not been shifted out of the unit despite the same having been ordered by the Delhi Police. Also, the complainant has stated that she along with other female staff who had complained against the accused have instead been transferred out of the unit," Maliwal said in the notice.

The notice asks the respondent Delhi Police for "immediate" registration of FIR in the matter and revoke transfer orders of the complainants.